Review procedure, way of gov't administration, post Covid-19 - Muhyiddin

The procedure and way of working in the government must be reviewed to help the country rebuild itself in the new normal post-Covid-19, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the old ways were no longer suitable in the post-Covid-19 situation.

Speaking in his first meeting with the staff of the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD) since heading the government and implementing the Movement Control Order (MCO), Muhyiddin said as far as possible, the many levels of decision-making should be reduced and the heads of agencies and departments given the authority to make immediate decisions.

He said the Chief Secretary to the government can serve as the key facilitator in the event that ministries or agencies had issues to discuss so that they do not face action from auditors or enforcement agencies.

“This is something that we cannot avoid. These measures are some of what we must think of to help recovery efforts to revive the country’s economy,” Muhyiddin said at the assembly held in Dataran Perdana, Perdana Putra, today.

He said although Malaysia had almost overcome Covid-19 faster than other countries, we should not let bureaucratic and administrative issues be the reason those countries may overtake Malaysia in recoveries.

“We are facing a very big challenge, not just at the PMD but also at every department and ministry level, including in the state governments and local authorities,” he said.

Quoting the Economic Action Council report, Muhyiddin said although the various industries should be able to move fast after the economic sectors were opened up, this was not the case following several issues, including financial problems such as insufficient revolving capital.

“So our role as civil servants is connected to them, whether through providing direct services or issuing licences, conducting certain tests, or making a decision about their applications,” he said.

Muhyiddin (above) also stressed that the Perikatan Nasional government upheld all the principles it had fought for to create a government that is clean and has integrity.

Stressing that there would be no compromise in this matter, he said the present government will continue with the National Anti-Corruption Plan which it had agreed upon with the previous administration.

“We want to ensure that the government administration is according to the 'rule of law', and what we implement is not seen as abusing our power,” he said.

Muhyiddin also stressed that the government administration should be conducted in an organised and proper manner, especially in financial matters so that there is no wastage.

On government expenditure, he said almost 45 to 50 percent of development allocation had been spent despite some hitches during the MCO, but there was still more to be done before the end of the year.

“Of course I am hoping for close collaboration between us, if there are any issues or problems, we should discuss them with all parties and heads of departments, and we must remember that we do not work in a silo,” he said.

- Bernama