KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- The implementation of the MADANI Budget 2027 must be underpinned by a comprehensive transformation of the public service work culture, with greater emphasis on faster implementation, more efficient service delivery and tangible benefits for the people, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
He said the budget was not merely a financial statement but a major responsibility to ensure that all Malaysians benefited from equitable economic opportunities and efficient, integrity-driven public services.
“The people do not judge the government solely by the allocations announced. They judge it by the facilities available to them, whether assistance reaches the intended recipients, whether their dealings with the government can be completed without bureaucratic red tape, whether projects are completed on schedule, and whether they are treated fairly when dealing with government institutions,” he said.
Shamsul Azri said this at a special post-Budget 2027 session and the launch of the MyResQ application, themed ‘Menggapai di Langit, Mengakar di Bumi: Memperhebat Reformasi’ at Universiti Malaya (UM) today.
He said directives had been issued to all secretaries-general and heads of departments on Oct 12 to begin planning immediately to ensure that initiatives under the MADANI Budget 2027 could be implemented as early as next year.
He also outlined five priorities under the Public Service Reform Agenda (ARPA): strengthening governance and accountability; developing talent and fostering a high-performance culture; simplifying procedures for the public; promoting responsible digitalisation; and improving coordination across ministries to achieve results.
To advance the reform agenda, Shamsul Azri stressed the need for government agencies to prepare for the implementation of the Government Procurement Act from 2027, while also streamlining bureaucratic procedures and expanding access to more efficient, integrated digital services.
“The paperless administration initiative has saved 482,940 reams of paper, equivalent to RM5.79 million, as of August. This demonstrates that reforms to work processes can deliver measurable benefits,” he said.
At the event, he also launched the MyResQ application, which connects members of the public trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with nearby victims of cardiac emergencies and maps the locations of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), as part of efforts to strengthen community-based emergency response.
Meanwhile, UM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Ir Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman said higher education institutions had an increasingly important role to play in supporting the nation’s development and reform agenda, particularly through research, talent development and innovation aimed at addressing real-world societal challenges.
“Universities should not be measured solely by academic achievements and positions in global rankings, but also by the extent to which their knowledge, expertise and research can be translated into solutions that benefit the people,” he said.
-- BERNAMA