13/02/2025

THURSDAY | FEB 13, 2025

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‘Adopt new ways to implement policies, reforms’ PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the implementation of policies and institutional reforms in the country to be carried out swiftly by using more effective methods. He said attention must be given to these efforts as there are still parties using old methods and approaches. Citing the empowerment of English language among school students, Anwar said the old approach to implementing this policy needs to be changed. “In addition to strengthening Bahasa Melayu, it is necessary to provide a slight shift to ensure the mastery of English as a second language, especially among secondary school students. “If we follow the usual projection, our decision taken in 2023 will be drafted (as policy) in 2024 and finalised in 2025. Then we will trial it in 2026 and begin the initial stage in 2027 while only (in) 2028 we will try to implement it. This cannot continue any more, it’s (the) old (way of) planning.” He was speaking at the Finance Ministry’s monthly gathering yesterday. Previously, Anwar had said that the level of English proficiency among students would be improved starting this year, while the position of Bahasa Melayu would be strengthened without compromise. He also stressed that efforts to reform any government policies and institutions must bring significant benefits to the people. “We talk about institutional reform for the people, (but) they do not see its impact. This is the problem that we describe as a disconnect between the policies and new initiatives which we present with (the aim of) bringing direct benefits to the people.” Anwar praised the good performance shown by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Permodalan Nasional Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund thus far. – Bernama US plan for Palestine condemned KUALA LUMPUR: The United Nations Association of Malaysia has strongly condemned a recent announcement of United States (US) President Donald Trump’s administration as an attempt to undermine Palestinian sovereignty and violate international law. Its president Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the proposal, which includes plans to relocate Palestinians from their homeland, “is diabolical, bereft of merit and highly provocative”, Bernama reported. “It suggests ethnic cleansing, and runs counter to the consistent and established efforts by the international community, including previous US administrations, to safeguard and promote the rights of the Palestinian people.” Joint exercise to boost oil spill response SINGAPORE: Government agencies and departments from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia conducted a joint table-top exercise to enhance regional coordination and strengthen response capabilities for oil spills. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said the exercise involved representatives from MPA, Indonesia’s Directorate-General of Sea Transportation, Malaysia’s Environment Department and oil spill response experts from International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited. MPA said the exercise focused on coordination procedures to ensure swift and clear communication among the littoral states during oil spill. – Bernama

Anwar arriving for the Finance Ministry’s monthly gathering in Putrajaya yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Move to streamline govt agencies after Cabinet nod

thousands of these companies are incurring huge losses. “However, deciding to cancel these (companies) is not easy but if it must be done, we must do it. This reflects or gives meaning to what is called institutional reform,” said Anwar. He urged the Public Service machinery to think and act fast to drive the country’s growth, Bernama reported. Meanwhile, Anwar said he and Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had also discussed the implementation methods of policies and major strategies during their meeting on Tuesday. Also present were Finance Minister II Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, Shamsul Azri, Public Service Director-General Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Treasury Secretary-General Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican.

o Secretariat for Rationalisation of Federal Statutory Bodies was set up last year to address issue of overlapping functions, save funds, says PM

PUTRAJAYA: A proposal to streamline several government agencies to address the issue of overlapping functions will be presented to the Cabinet soon, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “I had assigned the then Treasury secretary general Datuk Seri Asri Hamidon to give several proposals to streamline several agencies and present them to the chief secretary to the government. I will decide after it has been presented to the Cabinet.” Anwar, who is also the finance minister, was speaking at the Finance Ministry’s monthly

gathering yesterday. He had said on Sept 3 that the government had established a Secretariat for the Rationalisation of Federal Statutory Bodies to address the issue of overlapping functions and to save funds. Following that, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar announced the appointment of Asri to lead a special committee for the purpose. “I have instructed that no company should be established under an agency without approval from the highest level because

Use iPayment at all ministries, depts by March: Anwar PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants the use of the Federal Government Electronic Receipt System (iPayment) to be expanded to all federal ministries and departments by March. The system offers government service users the option to make payments online using debit, credit and prepaid cards as well as internet banking, QR code and e-wallet. “When we look back 10, 15 or even 20 years, we were far ahead with all the strengths we had, but various challenges arose, ultimately causing our progress to stagnate.

“Therefore, we must catch up, and when we talk about institutional reforms, including in the public service, extraordinary speed is essential.” iPayment is an integrated electronic collection system developed by the Accountant-General’s Department to manage and standardise government service payments. It was developed in early 2022, with Phase 1 introducing an online portal. Phase 2, which began yesterday, expands its capabilities by adding payment channels at counters and through mobile applications. – Bernama

“In my view, iPayment is a significant step forward, not only as a new initiative but also in delivering direct benefits to the people by enhancing efficiency and reducing lengthy bureaucratic delays.” Anwar said Malaysia must move at a faster pace to stay ahead and avoid falling behind in digital transformation. He added that the country’s progress in this field has remained relatively stagnant compared with several other nations such as Estonia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

He emphasised the need to accelerate the system’s implementation to ensure that the public could promptly benefit from its enhancements and streamlined services. “It is important to remember that the true measure of success lies in how the majority of people experience the benefits of the reforms we are discussing. That is why I am calling for the iPayment programme’s implementation to be expedited, moving the projected timeline from the end of April to early March,” he said at the launch of Phase 2 of the iPayment system.