Using passion to fuel civil service excellence

GOVERNMENT agencies need to be more passionate when it comes to participating in the Civil Service Excellence Awards (ACPA) and improvement and change initiatives that have been implemented, said the director of Management Services Department at the Prime Minister's Office.

Hjh Hindun Dato Paduka Hj Noordin yesterday raised her concerns on the declining number of participants in the competition for the past few years.

Speaking at the Civil Service Roadshow at the Tutong Community Complex yesterday, the director shared her observations on the number of participating projects which have decreased compared to previous years.

"There was an increase in participation for the year 2008, but there are still areas that need to be improved," she said.

She advised all government agencies not to waste the opportunity for their work to be recognised and rewarded through the programme.

She highlighted that the biennial awards is one of His Majesty's Government's efforts in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the public service.

The programme focuses on areas such as policies, new technologies, community development, systems and procedures, as well as the management of financial and human resources.

Aside from encouraging healthy competition among civil servants towards raising the quality of management and service delivery, the programme was also held to recognise and honour the efforts of participants who are contributing to the improvement of their respective organisations.

"Up to 2008, a total of 120 projects had been nominated to participate in the ACPA programme," said the director, who was also the chairperson of the roadshow committee.

"Civil servants need to foster the culture of not being easily satisfied and complacent with their existing services and current achievements, but to always practise the culture of continuous improvement in upgrading the level of achievements in service delivery," she added.

Hjh Hindun advised government agencies to always think and implement initiatives to upgrade as well as maintain the effectiveness and efficiency, performance, productivity and quality.

Organised by the Management Services Departmentin collaboration with the Tutong District Office, the ACPA Roadshow for Tutong District was aimed to ensure future participation of all ministries and government departments in the Civil Service Excellence Awards and ensure continuity in the implementation of the programme.

"Another step in achieving this purpose is with the release of the Prime Minister's Office's Circular numbered 7/2007 dated April 30, 2007, which emphasised that from year 2008 onwards, every ministry is required to nominate at least one project for each category in the future," said Hjh Hindun.

"It is hoped that every government agency do not to miss the opportunity in participating and benefit positively from the programme," she added.

During the roadshow, invited guests and participants were briefed on the implementation of the ACPA programme and its participation guidelines by Hjh Siti Mariana Abdullah, senior management services officer of Management Services Department.

The Brunei Times