The Star - Saturday December 19, 2009
People concerned about implementation
THERE was basically one concern from those who turned up at the Government
Transformation Programme open house – implementation.
While many were impressed with the efforts of the Performance Management and
Delivery Unit (Pemandu) in organising the event and some said it was most
“ungovernment-like”, all of them hoped the proposals would take shape.
Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute centre for public policy studies
chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam lauded the event as it was a new era of
greater transparency.
“I commend our Prime Minister for the open presentation which struck the right
chord among the public. However, the execution of the proposals must not be
delayed,” he said.
He said implementation of the proposals must not be “like a flash in the pan”.
“It must not be a lot of hot air. Otherwise, the balloon will burst,” he said,
adding that the Government will suffer a backlash if the initiatives do not see
the light of day.
Ramon suggested that unity be the emphasis of the NKRAs as only then will its
impact be holistic and meaningful.
PJ Utara MP Tony Pua said: “There is no denying that Pemandu has helped a lot
in putting this together in six weeks. But the proof is in the doing.”
His fellow DAP leader Teresa Kok said this was a good first step by the
Government. “But a one-time engagement is not sufficient to deal with the
issues,” the Seputeh MP said.
Association of Women with Disabilities Malaysia president K. Bathmavathi said
it was very rare for an event that enabled the public to directly communicate
with the Government.
“Hopefully the open day would be taken to other states to gather more
feedback,” said Bathmavathi, 55, who came to the event in a wheelchair. “I
came because I wanted to know if the NKRAs included the disabled community.”
Kepong resident Gareth Koh said he wanted to see the proposals become reality.
“Many a times, ideals such as this are alive in its policy stage. It will be
great if there is a sustainability factor to what we have been told in the open
day,” the 24-year-old said.
Klang resident Jesvinder Singh said regular progress reports should be given to
the public in the interest of greater transparency.
“I was particularly taken by Datuk Seri Idris Jala’s statement likening the
people involved in the different national key result areas laboratories to
pregnant women who have to eventually deliver. This is precisely what the
public is concerned about,” he said.
Wassalam.
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