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District
Officers To The Fore
District Officers (DOs) play a crucial
role in the development of their respective districts. They are the eyes and
ears of the rural populace. They are the elite leaders of the people and they
are looked upon as being a reliable medium between the people and the government.
From Trusan in Limbang Division to Sematan in Lundu, DOs are the vital link
in ensuring that the government's development programmes are a guaranteed success.
One moment they can be out in the field with the people and the next they can
be surrounded by people in their offices confronted with a myriad of complexities
ranging from registration of birth and death to squabbles about land matters.
The list is endless. "We are expected to have answers to all kinds of problems
and in most cases we are able to deal with them most satisfactorily," quipped
one DO.
Infinite
scope of duty
At the DO conference in March this
year, the Chief Minister, YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud
reiterated his call on the DOs to sharpen their administrative skills to help
realise the economic potentials of their respective districts. By so doing,
they not only ensure a higher rate of economic growth in their districts but
also raise the living standard of the people. The more knowledgeable they are,
the easier will they understand the objective of the government in implementing
development projects. This in turn will sustain an orderly development of the
local communities, preventing problems such as the emergence of squatter colonies
which may prove to be a hindrance to orderly development of housing projects
for the people.
Leaders
As elite leaders DOs must also be
sensitive to the aspirations of the people and become initiators of ideas that
could help bring them into the mainstream of development. DOs must also play
an active role in mobilising the people towards better progress and advancement
in their respective districts, thus eradicating poverty in rural areas. They
must work closely with the private sectors, the country's engine of economic
growth. As such DOs must understand the role of the private sectors in the development
process in order for them to achieve socio-economic prosperity for the people
in their districts.
What
can DOs do to bring about orderly development?
The Chief Minister again stressed to the DOs that they will have to identify
'target groups' within their respective districts to assist them in disseminating
valuable information pertaining to development projects. Community leaders,
the educated masses, government departments and politicians must come together
and work as one to ensure a smooth and sustainable implementation of any project.
In order to implement any development project, DOs must ensure that the people
have full understanding of the proposed projects lest they are misunderstood
and be a source of suspicions by the people. They need to go down to the ground
as often as possible to explain to the people the objective behind the proposed
projects. Only then will DOs have better interpersonal relation with the people
and understand them better. "Different places have different environment and
different environment requires approaches - people in Belaga need different
types of development than the people in Kuching," added the Chief Minister.
DOs are there to listen and help solve your problems in whatever way they can.
You may contact them at the district offices nearest you.
Districts Offices'
Telephone Numbers:
Lawas 085-285963; Limbang 085-211121;
Marudi 085-755211; Miri 085-433204;
Song 084-777237; Belaga 086-461315;
Kapit 084-796322; Tatau 086-584617;
Bintulu 086-332886; Kanowit 084-752161;
Mukah 084-871201; Dalat 084-864264;
Sibu 084-330219; Matu 084-832231;
Julau 084-734228; Daro 084-823097;
Maradong 084-693261; Sarikei
084-651421;
Lubok Antu 083-584101; Betong
083-472404;
Sarikei 083-436103; Sri Aman 083-322012;
Simunjan 082-803602; Serian 082-874511;
Kota Samarahan 082-671105;
Bau 082-763211; Lundu 082-735017;
Kuching 082-242768. |
To our readers (whether you're with the Civil Service or a member of the public
that it serves): Is there anything that you want to say about the quality of
services that our Civil Services is providing? Do you have any comments, ideas
and suggestions about our Human Resources Development Programs? Do you still
have some problems which you think that IT-solutions will be able to address?
Tell us about it. Your comments and ideas will be valuable inputs. Besides,
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