Pehin Isa’s Advice To Public Officers
By Azian Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Minister of Home Affairs reiterated the need to take public complaints and problems relating to his ministry and departments under it seriously and to take appropriate action.

He also urged heads and deputy heads of departments to take disciplinary action against officers and staff who fail to abide by office rules and regulations including those who swindle money.

In addition, he also called on enforcement agencies not to hesitate to come forward should they find that the current legislation is outdated and needs to be reviewed by the legislators.

"We should jointly take efforts and to take public complaints seriously as raised in the Borneo Bulletin, Media Permata or those written by the public. Public complaints received special attention in the New Year 2004 titah of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, where His Majesty stressed the need to enhance the quality of service to meet the public's need as customers," Pehin said.

Pehin Dato Hj Awg Isa, who is also the Special Adviser to His Majesty at the Prime Minister's Office, yesterday gave a speech to Deputy Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Department, Deputy Heads and senior government officials under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was held at the Fire Services Department hall at the Old Airport Road.

"In this context, I urge permanent secretaries, heads of departments, deputy heads and senior officials to lake seriously the content of the titah," Pehin Isa said.

All levels of management under the Ministry of Home Affairs should be earnest, committed, analyse guidelines for improvement and reformation through systematic management towards efficient, effective, excellent services that would satisfy the heart of the public.

Pehin Isa also urged the Client's Charter or Tekad Pemedulian Orang Ramai (TPOR) to be practised and not just be shown as an exhibit or promise towards giving high quality of service and satisfaction to the customers.

It also needs to be reviewed and analysed from time to time in line with the needs of the current situation, development and customers' satisfaction.

Another matter that needs to be reviewed and analysed is the organisational structure and task of the officers and reformation programme at the respective department as this could hinder the development and burden the government's budget without producing any positive outcome.

Any job that is duplicated, and seen overlapping between one officer and another and between one department and another should be streamlined and improved if necessary.

Pehin Isa also urged new officers not to be reluctant to voice their opinions about the system and working environment as they may be "more prompt" to look at the issue towards achieving effective and efficient tasks.

The senior officials, on the other hand, should be ready and take note of such proposals and should not take it for granted simply because they are new staffs who are new to the respective job systems.

In this respect, an action team led by heads of departments or deputies as well as Quality Control Circle (KKC) should be seriously re-initiated at the ministerial and departmental levels. Pehin Isa also urged all staff to abide by office working hours.

"We have often heard officers and staff who are unavailable in the office while customers require their services. Undoubtedly, this would hinder services rendered to the public especially by those departments that are service oriented."

He also called on officers and staff to entertain members of the public politely with caring attitude and give details to the public on inquiry.

Enforcement agencies should be more proactive and firm in implementing and enforcing laws and regulations.

They must also be vigilant against those who violate laws and regulations of the country and should frequently carry out surveillance and inspection under their jurisdiction, added the minister. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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