Three key areas in 12th Malaysia Plan to strengthen public sector

KUALA LUMPUR: Three priority areas, namely Developing High-Performing Civil Service, Advancing Whole-of-Government Approach and Enhancing Budgeting and Project Management are the way forward to strengthen public sector service delivery in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

According to the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) document released by the Economic Planning Unit today, human resource management as well as the role of central agencies including the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) will be enhanced.

The document stated that with the acceleration of digital adoption, every civil servant is also expected to be digitally literate by 2025.

As for Persons with Disabilities (PwD), they will be given priority for a number of job categories in the recruitment process, consistent with the government policy of providing equal opportunities for all.

The MyPerformance system which includes a 360-degree evaluation mechanism will be expanded across the public sector to improve the performance appraisal of civil servants, particularly at the management and professional levels.

Meanwhile, for the Advancing Whole-of-Government Approach area, a public service act will be introduced to ensure more effective checks and balances between executive, legislative and judicial powers, as well as a special committee to be established to coordinate and minimise various overlapping structures and functions between ministries and agencies.

In an effort to strengthen open data governance, a national data governance framework will be established to bolster data sharing among the public and private sectors, and that the framework will incorporate policies, guidelines, legal and investment measures.

According to the 12MP document, a new legislation on the Ombudsman of Malaysia will be introduced to enhance the integrity and governance of public institutions.

The Election Commission will be strengthened to ensure a fair, independent and transparent election process, and the digitalisation of the election management will also be further enhanced through more systematic system integration and development of new applications.

With that effort, it will enable more effective and efficient implementation of the 18 years old voter age eligibility and automatic voters' registration, it said.

For the third area of Enhancing Budgeting and Project Management, the Pre-Budget Statement and Mid-Year Review Report will be published to enhance transparency.

Other than that, at least 50 per cent of the development expenditure will be allocated to six less-developed states namely Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis to ensure a more balanced regional growth and reduce development gaps.

In the 12 MP, the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) will be introduced to enhance fiscal discipline as well as improve fiscal governance and transparency.

-- BERNAMA