Statement 
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong 
on 21.9.2002 
in Kuala Lumpur

The Malaysian Government should set up a workable mechanism to ensure an efficient, fast and client-friendly delivery system of the civil service


In the 2003 budget, the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dato¡¯ Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad vouches for an efficient, fast and client-friendly delivery system of the civil service to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of national development policies and strategies. In this regard, the civil service must reduce bureaucracy and review all regulations and procedures to expedite dealings with the public.

This is an important statement. It is another beginning. The Government must set up a workable mechanism to enforce it, lest it be like striking up the old tune.

Strengthening the rural development agenda such as RM2.5 billion to provide roads, bridges, electricity, water, health, education, housing and telecommunications, and ensuring the well-being of the rakyat with hundreds of millions of ringgits are attempts to win support. We hope the Government uses the allocations properly.

The 2 002 allocations for education and health are RM26.194 billion and RM7.556 billion respectively. These are impressive. The allocation for education is over 23% of the total budget and education and health total RM33.75 billion. Primary and secondary education gets RM14.29 billion, while higher education obtains RM868.5 million. The Government allocates RM5 billion for teaching Mathematics and Science in English and RM850 million for single session schools. We, especially the civil servants, need a new attitude and mentality to use these allocations wisely. Hence, we have to formulate a workable mechanism to achieve this objective.