| STATE
SECRETARY'S VIEW |
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| Tan Sri
Datuk Amar Hj Hamid Bugo |
Towards
Excellence in Human Resource Management and Development
Civil Service Day allows
us to reflect on what we have achieved as employees of the Civil Service and
what we have contributed to ensure the smooth functioning of our government.
It also provides us with the opportunity to contemplate what we should do next,
at least in the near future.
We are
fortunate to be in the Civil Service because we have leaders who are knowledgeable
about the Civil Service, who are always sympathetic and willing to lead a helping
hand to find solutions to problems and concerns that we face as we deal with
the tasks and responsibilities entrusted upon us.
The Civil
Service have been given the mandate to carry out responsibilities and duties
which are increasingly becoming more complex each day. With the decentralisation
of authorities, we have been empowered to arc on certain matters or issues which
traditionally require political authority. With this goes responsibility.
I am
concerned with this delegated authority and responsibility, not because we are
afraid of additional work or new work. I am worried because I am uncertain as
to whether we are fully equipped to shoulder those responsibilities and duties
which the government has seen fit to empower us to carry out. Will we be equipped
to handle those responsibilities? We can say that so far so good. We have been
able to apply ourselves through various means. We have gone through various
courses and training to upgrade ourselves. We have applied new technology, possess
better machines and better IT infrastructure. we have gone through new methods,
teamwork, task force, QCC etc. We have developed new procedures like flow chart,
ISO etc. We have new rules, new ordinances and of course we have intensified
our drives to instill work ethics such as openness and transparency, accountability
and integrity within the ranks of Civil Service.
But,
these are mere process or forms, which if carried too far will in fact end up
in the exultation of bureaucratic process. To prevent such a system to evolve
in our Civil Service, the Civil Service employees really have no choice but
to go through in the next years a period of what can be called a period of Intellectual
Renaissance.
Intellectual
Renaissance, in the context of Sarawak Civil service, is a process that
will begin with the inculcation of culture of self-learning in our organisation.
So far, we have been putting much more emphasis on the act to teaching rather
than on the actual activity of learning. Someone said the teacher has not taught
until the student has learn. we ought to change our philosophy or our approach
and show that we in the Civil Service, in Sarawak at least, will inculcate ourselves
with the culture of self-leaning.
An organisation
where the culture of self-learning permeates all ranks will result in having
its members apply their intellectual ability, preference an aptitude to full
use in all their decision making. It will be an organisation where each individual
will have the sense to combine knowledge and wisdom in executing judgement.
I believe
that it is this combination of wisdom and knowledge which will help us to differentiate
between right and wrong; to distinguish between body and spirit; to understand
justice and fairness; to make a difference between journey and destination and
really acknowledge that dreams do differ from reality. It will also help us
appreciate the finer points between listening and hearing or the distinction
between talking and real communication.
There
is really no escape from the need to have Intellectual Renaissance amongst us.
We cannot escape from the process of globalisation. If we are to be in the mainstream
of global events and developments, we have no choice but to be on par with the
best practices, best approaches, best knowledge and philosophies and principles
that the human mind can possibly devise and develop.
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