Proposals to make local authorities more efficient

utusan.com.my  29/6/2004

KUALA LUMPUR June 28 - The Housing and Local Government Ministry has made 56 proposals to local authorities nationwide to enhance their efficiency, improve their public delivery system and wipe out corruption.

Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the proposals were arrived at from the ministry's discussions with the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) and relevant agencies to ensure transparency among local authority staff including counter clerks.

"Apart from preventing corruption and reducing red tape, the ministry also wishes to ensure all local authority staff have a high sense of competitiveness in providing the best service to their clients," said Ong to the media after opening the Taman Melati Fire Station in Setapak near here.

Ong said among the proposals to be implemented immediately were speedy approval of building premises and being customer friendly particularly in projects involving local and foreign investors.

He was commenting on the statement by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Samsudin Osman on Sunday that four ministries had been entrusted with the responsibility to implement the National Integrity Plan (PIN).

The other ministries are Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, Higher Education Ministry and Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.

Ong said the Housing and Local Government Ministry was in discussion with state governments on coordinating local authorities with a view to ensuring there was no conflict in their policies and actions.

"At present local authorities have their autonomy provided by the Federal Constitution and state governments have power over the local authorities, which made it difficult to coordinate policies which the Federal Government wish to introduce," he said.

Ong said among the weaknesses of the present system was too much discretionary power was given to senior local authority officials, which had led to corrupt practices and abuse of power.

"Once there is coordination among all local authorities, the government's efforts to ensure greater transparency and efficiency among staff when providing the best service to the people will be achieved," Ong said.