Laws to be Amended
for Faster CF Approval
by Joniston Bangkuai, NST 24-November-2006
KOTA KINABALU: About 12 laws will be amended to speed up the
process of issuing certificates of fitness for new buildings.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the amendments
would go through Parliament next year.
He said they were necessary as issues related to CF and land approval
had resulted in complaints from the public and private sectors.
Abdullah said despite the government's emphasis to improve the public
delivery system, the results hadn't been up to expectation.
"If we don't improve, we will not have the capacity to compete with the
rest of the world.
"If we take two steps forward and others take five steps we will be
left behind," he said when officiating at the national-level Integrity
Management Committee meeting here yesterday.
The convention was attended by some 1,000 heads of federal and state
departments and agencies.
Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman and Chief Secretary to
the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.
Abdullah reminded the public service that efforts to improve efficiency
must be a continuous process.
"Efficiency is the ability to handle volumes of work with speed and
accuracy," he said, adding that efficiency was crucial to ensure the
successful and speedy implementation of projects.
"Good programmes will not benefit the people if they are not
implemented efficiently."
The government, he said, must avoid the perception that it was good on
ideas but short on implementation.
Abdullah wants the public service to immediately correct or rectify any
mistakes or weaknesses that arose.
"There must be constant assessment and evaluation on our performance to
find out what needs to be improved," he said.
On another matter, the prime minister told a Press conference that the
media should stop playing up sensitive issues on race and religion.
He said it was better for all quarters to focus on development
projects.
"Stop it. Don't play with racial issues," he said in response to a
reporter's question that the Chinese newspapers were still highlighting
issues deemed racial, raised at the recently concluded Umno general
assembly.
Abdullah said that in his winding-up speech at the assembly, he had
assured all Malaysians that Umno cared for and would be responsible for
all races, and not just the Malays.
"My assurance was well received by them (delegates), which meant that
they agreed with my view and analysis."
As such, he said his assurance was the yardstick to determine Umno's
stand on the issue and not what was raised by some of the speakers at
the assembly.
"Do not exploit the sentiments of a few people and make a perception
that it reflects the views of all people."