This year has seen a number of fiascoes and scandals in the public sectors - some of which include the EPF and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. While the heads of these ministries switch to 'denial' mode, one individual chose to step up and overhaul this drastic trend. Yes, I am referring to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo's 'Broom Awards', where he handed brooms, worth RM3.80 each, to two public agencies for their substandard performance in 2006.
While many civil servants disagreed and rebuked Khir Toyo's move, as it caused great public embarrassment and was construed to be degrading, I perceive this act as an innovative step to achieve improvements within ineffectual government departments. Also, the 'Broom Awards' is seen as an effective reminder, while concurrently setting an example to deter other departments from following in the footsteps of these underperforming agencies.
Khir Toyo's actions are justified because to begin with, the two departments have not done their job. Like any organization, if a job is not done properly - there are consequences to bear. While certain groups have criticized Khir Toyo, namely Cuepacs president Omar Osman, for not employing the stipulated protocols to voice his dissatisfaction, it seems they have been employed but produces undesirable outcomes. As attested by Khir Toyo, constant reminders and whatnot have been issued to these departments only to have fallen on deaf ears. Therefore, in light of such circumstances, if the current methods do not work, there is indeed a need to resort to a solution which is more effective, creative and 'out-of-box', hence, the 'Broom Awards'.
The Broom is an effective means to achieving efficiency in departments. Pursuant to the announcement of this infamous award in 2006, several departments got their act together and even went on to achieve the 90% target in 2007. This is a clear testament to the effectiveness of the Broom, as opposed to ineffective reminders issued previously under the protocol, which evokes inadequate results.
It may be difficult, or even impossible, to fully comprehend and appreciate the greater good of Khir Toyo's act especially if you are a part of the public sector. However, from a layman's perspective, he is merely saving the public sector from further incidents of scandals and national embarrassment. Case in point would be the recent fiasco of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which only goes to show that the public sector could really do without another one. There is nothing wrong with Khir Toyo trying to remind departments, while adding a creative twist to his approach.
Above all, the Broom will serve as a strict reminder to all departments from ever emulating the already ineffective and inefficient public sector. Should they fall into complacency, they shall pay with their face.
The role of civil servants is to facilitate the tax-payers and to ensure that our national affairs are properly managed. Their responsibilities are vital and essential to the wellbeing of the people and if they should fail, they should publicly reprimanded. Public sectors are funded by tax-payers and if they are underperforming, the public should be enlightened. This follows from the logical argument of sex offenders, whose identities are made public to ensure that further damage is not done to members of society. The same can be applied to the public sector that if a fault is committed - a price has to be paid.
While many civil servants disagreed and rebuked Khir Toyo's move, as it caused great public embarrassment and was construed to be degrading, I perceive this act as an innovative step to achieve improvements within ineffectual government departments. Also, the 'Broom Awards' is seen as an effective reminder, while concurrently setting an example to deter other departments from following in the footsteps of these underperforming agencies.
Khir Toyo's actions are justified because to begin with, the two departments have not done their job. Like any organization, if a job is not done properly - there are consequences to bear. While certain groups have criticized Khir Toyo, namely Cuepacs president Omar Osman, for not employing the stipulated protocols to voice his dissatisfaction, it seems they have been employed but produces undesirable outcomes. As attested by Khir Toyo, constant reminders and whatnot have been issued to these departments only to have fallen on deaf ears. Therefore, in light of such circumstances, if the current methods do not work, there is indeed a need to resort to a solution which is more effective, creative and 'out-of-box', hence, the 'Broom Awards'.
The Broom is an effective means to achieving efficiency in departments. Pursuant to the announcement of this infamous award in 2006, several departments got their act together and even went on to achieve the 90% target in 2007. This is a clear testament to the effectiveness of the Broom, as opposed to ineffective reminders issued previously under the protocol, which evokes inadequate results.
It may be difficult, or even impossible, to fully comprehend and appreciate the greater good of Khir Toyo's act especially if you are a part of the public sector. However, from a layman's perspective, he is merely saving the public sector from further incidents of scandals and national embarrassment. Case in point would be the recent fiasco of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which only goes to show that the public sector could really do without another one. There is nothing wrong with Khir Toyo trying to remind departments, while adding a creative twist to his approach.
Above all, the Broom will serve as a strict reminder to all departments from ever emulating the already ineffective and inefficient public sector. Should they fall into complacency, they shall pay with their face.
The role of civil servants is to facilitate the tax-payers and to ensure that our national affairs are properly managed. Their responsibilities are vital and essential to the wellbeing of the people and if they should fail, they should publicly reprimanded. Public sectors are funded by tax-payers and if they are underperforming, the public should be enlightened. This follows from the logical argument of sex offenders, whose identities are made public to ensure that further damage is not done to members of society. The same can be applied to the public sector that if a fault is committed - a price has to be paid.
