Tan Sri Sidek Hassan

I have to say that I am admired by what Tan Sri Sidek Hassan, Chief Secretary of Malaysia has done. He has definitely led by example and he has definitely delivered constantly to perform at a very high level.

Tan Sri Sidek, since being appointed to the top position of Civil Service, has taken to the task to transform our civil service. He has another 18 months to go, and he has been taking very serious steps to stem the problems of civil service. Many of those little napoleons have felt the heat from him, and he has no issue in publicly ticking those civil servants who fail to perform, and he would also provide fast promotions for those civil servants who perform well.

Tan Sri Sidek gave his email address to Malaysian public, to email him with any question/feedback/comment/idea. His email is sidek@pmo.gov.my . I have heard from several people who have emailed him with feedback and sometimes problems to solve, and he has always gotten those problems that often solved in months/years to be solved within a couple of days. He even responded to emails on Sunday.

I have heard him talk recently in a MIT Club of Malaysia Dinner Talk and I would say that it is very impressive.

Below is an article published in MCA website. You can click here to read.

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The article reproduced in full is as follow:-


Lifelines cut – declared the headlines of The Sun on 12 Dec 07. Little Napoleans, long the bane of the civil service, now have cause for concern.


Their days as civil masters look coming to a halt as the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan has taken a firm stand in nipping the Little Napoleans at the bud.


While it has been commonly known that in the civil service, enbassies and even in the private sector, the “bawah kaki” can wield considerable power influence above their superiors, this is the first time that a government officer has openly voiced his displeasure with an earnest conviction, vowing to arrest this problems. “You think I don’t know in MPAJ, the clerks, the directors and the deputy directors are more powerful than the president? You think I won’t be telling them that after this that I will pull them out if they don’t change? I am very firm with this.”


It’s about time someone hammered the nail into the wall. Often time, underlings in government departments especially in state governments and local authorities wield so much power in that before any message or proposal reaches their bosses, or messages or directives from the superiors reaches the recipient, in between such instructions would either delayed, or not relayed for reasons known only to the messenger. In another vein, such Little Napoleans may even introduce slanted guidelines or policies which would serve to benefit a particular community or worse still, monopoly by a specific commercial entity at the expense of free and fair competition, especially where procurement of supplies and services are concerned. Unfortunately, such ugly practices breeds corruption, power abuse or self enrichment with no iota of public accountability or transparency at all.


We wish the highest ranking civil servant all the best in his endeavours. It is a daunting task, which may even shake people’s lucrative rice bowls, but someone has to rock the boat, if one really intends to see improvements, reforms and productive results in the civil service. The highest ranking government servant has also given his email, sidek@pmo.gov.my for contractors who failed to received their payments to lodge complaints with him. Sidek may even encounter subtle rebellion from within, but may he persevere and be resolute in carrying out his tasks to see an enhanced public delivery system.


In seeking to improve the public delivery system, the public ought not to dismiss the entire civil service as wanting owing to the behaviour of a few rotten apples. We should not lose sight of the improvements that have already taken place.


For example, this year, all government departments at the federal and state levels were instructed to ensure that payments to staff and service be reduced from 30 to 14 working days. This is one huge plus point for the civil service. Compared to the private sectors, while many commercial entities give out 30 credit terms, such a problem of poor paymasters or “besok-lusa” (tomorrow-day after) syndrome does lurk, whereupon the creditor would have to write off such debts as “bad debtors” in their accounts ledger, or if they can afford the time and inconvenience, commence legal action against such debtors.


With the initiation of the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah), a noticeable difference for the better in the public delivery system is in place.


The New Straits Times on 28 Nov 07 reported that in October 2007, state level offices were able to close 41,655 invoices amounting to RM 611.9 million within the revised payment time. In the same period, 93.6% of invoices amounting to RM 3.6 billion met the 14-day deadline in all 28 ministries while 62.3% were able to pay invoices within seven days. The Prime Minister’s Department closed 36,453 invoices amounting to RM 483.6 million in the say period, with 75.9% of the amount paid within seven days.


Take a walk to the Immigration office, having to wait one-month when applying or renewing one’s international passport is a thing of the bygone era. It takes only 3 hours at the most to complete apply or renewing one’s international passport at the self-help passport reader machine.


Refunds for overpaid income taxes would now take between 14 to 30 days opposed to one year previously.


Within the Companies Commission of Malaysia, registration of new business can be completed within 1 hour, while renewal of business licensing would take a mere 15 minutes unlike 1 day as before.


Factory owners will be pleased with the Business Licensing Electronic Support Services (BLESS) as approval for a manufacturing license has been trimmed to 23 days, compared to 40~50 days earlier on.


Senior citizens and disabled folks no longer have to wait in long queues to be attended to at government departments as there are special counters specially reserved to assist them.

- MCA Online -