New evaluation system for civil servants soon

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KOTA KINABALU: A new system to evaluate civil servants’ performance is expected to be announced this month.

Defence Ministry Secretary General Datuk Sri Dr Ismail Ahmad said in order to ensure that the evaluation was relevant and suitable for civil servants, department heads were given flexibility to create their own marking system based on guidelines given by the Public Services Department.

Speaking during an appreciation night here on Monday night, Ismail said the government was also reviewing the country’s retirement system to create a more productive, innovative, creative and high performance public service.

“This comprehensive study will not just focus on retirement aspects alone, but also to create a dynamic structure that reflects the nation’s economic transformation plans,” he said.

On another development, Ismail said the Defence Ministry viewed eradication of corruption seriously and had placed it as one of the objectives under the National Key Results Area.

He said the law forbids one from giving or accepting bribes. Even hiding the facts of such act is an offence under the Act.

However, he realises that to report such acts could be risky as the informant is exposed to threats.

“But to protect the informant, the government enforced the Whistleblower Protection Act on December 15, last year. It is hoped that with the Act, it would encourage many to come forward and blow the whistle as well as expose other matters related to power abuse,” said Ismail who presented excellence services and appreciation awards to 74 recipients.

Ismail also said it was important for staff to understand the relevance behind the change from Support Group to Government Policy Implementers’ Group.

“This group should understand the job processes and the organisation’s work ethics. They are supposed to work to meet the ISO standards and discussions among them are very much encouraged,” he said.

In addition, he also said that the working environment should offer a learning process for all staff, just like how a university would work, adding that the job should be filled with challenges and be competitive.

“The existing human touch and towering personality in an organisation is much welcomed and should be practised. Only through this approach can we form a duty-based management in an administration or management,” he said.

Ismail added that public services should play an important role as the government’s implementing agents.

“At the same time, the government will continue to improve the civil servants’ welfare,” he said.