PUTRAJAYA – Reforms in the civil service should take place immediately as there is still room for improvement, said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

       Datuk Seri Anwar pointed to several areas in which reforms had not reached satisfactory levels, including issues of negligence and sluggishness among officials, according to reports by department or agency heads.

       Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Department monthly gathering on Sept 2, Mr Anwar also highlighted several other areas which need to be looked into.

       These include the merging of several departments and agencies and the matter of overlapping positions among officials.

       “The administration that I helm demands good governance, a strong economy and the well-being of the people. This must be delivered,” he said.

       Mr Anwar said speed and efficiency in the delivery of services must also be improved and be in accordance with public demand.

       “How quickly we answer public queries and correspondence is important. We must constantly find ways (to improve) so that we can provide satisfactory service to the people,” he added.

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       Mr Anwar then hinted that major reforms are set to take place in the civil service.

       He said the matter will be discussed with the chief secretary to the government and the Public Service director-general on “measures to improve performance”.

       The Prime Minister also welcomed newly appointed chief secretary to the government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and called on civil servants to work as a team with him.

       “We have a lot to do, especially in improving performance. Which is why it is important that all civil servants give their cooperation to the new KSN,” he said, referring to Datuk Seri Shamsul’s designation by its Malay acronym.

       Mr Shamsul was appointed to the post on Aug 7, replacing Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, who retired on Aug 10.

       The 55-year-old was the Public-Private Partnership Unit director-general prior to the appointment and has been in public service for 30 years. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK