Uggah (fourth right) hoses down the drain as a gimmick to launch the state-level NBOS MyBN Gotong-Royong 2017. Looking on are Dr Sim (front), Huang (second right), Rolland (third right and Junaidi, who stands behind Dr Sim.
SARIKEI: The government considers the cooperation between its various agencies as the most appropriate way to ensure optimum effectiveness and efficiency of its delivery system.
According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, healthy competition between these government agencies is encouraged, but it would be much better if they could work together towards more optimum results.
“That is the basic philosophy behind the formulation of the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) by the government,” he said in his speech at the official launch of state-level NBOS’ ‘My Beautiful Neighbour (MyBN) Gotong-Royong (Work Party)’ programme in Sarikei Speech Centre yesterday.
Abang Johari’s text-of-speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who represented him at the event hosted by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
The chief minister described NBOS as a great idea by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak – a strategy that distinguishes the present-day government’s service delivery system from that conducted in the past.
“NBOS has rendered the previous service delivery system – one that lacked cooperation across all levels such as ministries, departments, agencies and even sections – as a thing of the past.
“This system (NBOS) has facilitated the flow of creative ideas, collaborations between various agencies and departments, cost-effectiveness, the checked red tapes and bureaucracy, as well as steps to ensure high-impact results – all of which sums up into an effective and efficient delivery service,” he pointed out.
Abang Johari also stressed that the transformation of Sarawak towards a digital economy would demand strong cooperation and sharing of information or data between various parties.
“A digital economy cannot work if we work in silos. We can see this firsthand when I led a study group to Estonia in Europe last month. There, a service provider has to work in the same digital platform with other parties so that the service is seamless. If not, you could not transfer money from bank to bank, pay your bills or settle your income tax digitally via mobile devices – these are just some examples,” he said.
On the NBOS’ MyBN Gotong-Royong, Abang Johari believed that the initiative involving six parliamentary areas in the state – Mas Gading, Saratok, Miri, Sibu, Baram and Sarikei – would achieve its objectives namely creating a beautiful, clean and safe environment, as well as promoting a friendly, courteous and harmonious community.
Meanwhile, Repok assemblyman Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii expressed his hope for the NBOs MyBN Gotong-Royong programme could instil a sense of belonging in every local resident – a move that he believed would be crucial in transforming this division into a safe, clean, beautiful and peaceful place to live in.
He also took the opportunity to thank Uggah – also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development – for recognising Sarikei as ‘an important division’ in the state; hence it being dubbed as the ‘Food Basket of Sarawak’.
Huang hoped that more agricultural projects including access roads to farms and proper drainage would be implemented in this division, apart from the provision of more agriculture schemes and subsidies.
The launch was witnessed by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Meluan assemblyman Rolland Duat and Sarikei Resident Mohd Junaidi Mohidin.