- Advertisement -
News

View me as head of govt, not political party leader, Ismail tells civil servants

He says civil servants should defend the government from claims that it has failed.

Bernama
2 minute read
Share
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob addresses personnel from the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya today. Photo: Bernama
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob addresses personnel from the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya today. Photo: Bernama

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today said the government he leads is a joint-government that emphasises the Malaysian Family or Keluarga Malaysia concept. 

As such, he said, it would be apt for civil servants to defend the government against any allegation and slander claiming that the government under his administration has failed.

At a meeting with the staff of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) in Putrajaya today, Ismail said civil servants should defend the government by looking at him as the head of the government and not as a political party leader.

During the meeting, Ismail also spoke of the government's success, including in achieving a GDP growth of 8.9% in the second quarter of the year, and the creation of almost 400,000 jobs, as well as recording a trade value exceeding RM2 trillion.

"When you defend, do not be political. Do not see me as a political leader, but as the head of the government and you are a member of the government.

"This government is a joint government, that’s why I introduced the Malaysian Family concept because I want us to think of this government as one family," he added.

The meeting was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali.

Ismail said he wanted civil servants to work as a family and not in silos.

"I don't want the old culture of working in silos. We must work together, we have shared responsibilities. We can no longer move in silos, but must work as a family because the silo way will cause failure in any action or plan," he said.

For the country's economy to improve, Ismail said civil servants should reduce bureaucracy towards investors, which he said was often raised by the group during his visits abroad.

"Many ministries are involved in the same matter and in the end, this causes delay. For investors, traders, time is very important. Late approval will cause losses to them," he said, adding that the government had agreed to set up the MyMudah unit to deal with bureaucratic issues.
 
On the government's cooperation with the opposition through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability, Ismail said it was to enable the government to focus on big issues such as political stability and the recovery of the country's economy.

It was through the MoU that the Anti-Party Hopping Bill was passed, even though it was hotly debated in Parliament, he added.

"From an economic point of view, we have succeeded. The Anti-Party Hopping Bill has been passed unanimously and we will introduce the Political Funding Bill," he said.

On the separation of powers, Ismail said the government would introduce a Parliamentary Services Act.