Hajiji with ministers, elected representatives and district officers in a group photo at the Keningau Perkasa Hotel foyer today.
KENINGAU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor wants District Officers and Assistant District Officers to consistently practise a responsive, proactive and integrity-driven work culture while being bold in adopting new approaches.
“We must be bold in adopting new approaches if they can improve the quality of service delivery to the people.
“However, at the same time, every action must be carried out in accordance with regulations, good governance and the interests of the people,” he said when opening the 29th Sabah District Officers’ Conference at Hotel Perkasa here today.
Hajiji said this year’s conference theme, “Driving Innovation, Empowering Communities”, was highly relevant to the needs of today’s public administration.
“We are facing changes that are taking place at a very rapid pace. Advances in technology, changes in the global economy, social changes and rising public expectations of government services require us to continuously improve the way we work.
“Government administration must be more efficient, responsive and centred on the needs of the people,” he said.
In this context, Hajiji said District Offices are among the important institutions within the State Government machinery at the grassroots level.
“District Officers shoulder a major responsibility to ensure that government policies, programmes and projects are translated into action on the ground.
“You are not only responsible for coordinating district development, but also serve as the link between the government and the people,” he said.
Hajiji said the State Government is continuing Sabah’s development agenda through Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0, which builds on the development foundations established previously.
However, he said the success of the development agenda does not depend solely on planning at the State Government level, but also on the ability of the entire government machinery to implement it.
Once again, he said District Officers and District Offices have a very important role to play in this regard.
“District Offices are among the government institutions closest to the people. Therefore, your role in ensuring that government policies reach the people is extremely important.
“We must also view the state’s development from a long-term perspective. Over the past five years, we have faced various challenges, including the impact of the pandemic and economic uncertainties.
“Nevertheless, we continued to implement development and strengthen the foundations of the state’s economy. What has been built must be continued and strengthened.
“That is why policy continuity and administrative stability are crucial. Development cannot be implemented within a short period. It requires consistent planning, clear policies and a government machinery capable of implementing those plans,” he said.
In this regard, Hajiji wants the entire government machinery, including District Offices, to understand the direction of the state’s development.
“We have the plans. We have the allocations. We have identified projects. And we have government machinery at every level.
“What is needed is coordination, implementation discipline and commitment to ensure that all these plans deliver benefits to the people,” he said.
District Officers were also instructed to pay attention to the effectiveness of service delivery and not wait until a problem becomes serious.
“If there is an issue, take early action. If coordination with other agencies is required, do it immediately. If there is potential that can be developed, help facilitate it.
“This approach must become part of the work culture in district administration,” he said.
Hajiji also reminded them that project delays must not be regarded as normal because every delay affects the people.
“If there are problems in implementation, we must act early. If there are coordination issues, we must sit down together and find solutions.
“Our goal is to ensure that every planned project delivers benefits to the people within the stipulated timeframe,” he said.
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