KUALA LUMPUR – Views gathered from social media on ministers’ performance in their first 100 days on the job will be used to tally their overall score, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
There are several methods that can be applied to obtain feedback and analyse sentiment, he said, citing the rakyat’s perception as one of them.
“Overall, I will score them akin to how school report cards are done; that is one way. We have a committee… some of the scores will come from the people, but at what percentage, we have not yet decided. But the people’s views are one way,” he said in a special interview with senior editors here recently.
He said he is quite diligent when it comes to keeping up with netizens’ comments, and sometimes replies to them personally.
“Recently, they (ministers) presented suggestions for KPIs (key performance indicators), and I told them that there needs to be that feel-good factor for the people. We will wait for the ministers to announce these themselves.”
He said the 100-day report card is not a form of punishment, but meant to ensure cabinet members do their job well.
The 100-day target is not to punish the ministers. I’ve been asked if any (minister) could face the sack, and I hope none will face action. I just want them to perform well, nothing more. Once the 100 days are over, there will be mid- and long-term plans.”
Asked whether he has set 100-day achievement targets for himself, Ismail Sabri said: “Yes, of course there is a target for myself. Wait for my announcement when I address the nation on December 10.”
He said there has been mixed reactions from the people to the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) tabled in Parliament on Monday.
“There have been favourable comments, but not all. There were also negative ones, for example (comments) on (Bumiputera) equity that came from non-Bumiputeras.”
Overall, however, 12MP has been well received, he said, adding that implementation is key.
On the perception of non-Malays, especially the Chinese, of his administration, and whether special effort will be made to secure stronger support from the community, he said: “I have yet to carry out a detailed study (on this). It has only been a month, it is still the early days.
“Sometimes, they (sentiments) are positive early on, but then change over time. There are some who are not receptive in the beginning, but get convinced as time goes by. This is why in five or six months, three months after the 100th day, I will probably deliver an address.
“There are lots more to give to the people, and things could change after that. That is also why 100 days is too short a period to evaluate achievements.”
When unveiling his cabinet, comprising 31 ministers and 38 deputy ministers, on August 27, Ismail Sabri said all ministers will be required to prove their early achievements within the first 100 days of the administration.
The prime minister added that to ensure better coordination, the government has decided to place all upskilling and multiskilling programmes under the Human Resources Ministry, to be managed by the Human Resource Development Corporation.
Previously, several ministries implemented these programmes, leading to duplication, he said.
“We have agreed to place them under one ministry for (better) coordination, because there were six ministries conducting courses. Sometimes, the one that gains is the company giving the courses.
“You can see that all ministries conduct courses, but ultimately, the programmes are similar.”
The training provided should be focused and based on the situation in a particular area, he said, citing as examples oil and gas in Pengerang, Johor, and tourism in Langkawi, Kedah.
“Don’t conduct courses on ‘unsuitable’ matters. Now, we want to coordinate where possible, so as to not have too many. Money is spent on (many) courses, but there is no outcome.
“One person could have 10 certificates hanging on the wall of his house, but he is still the same.
“If you see now, for the B40 group, we are focusing on giving training and the like.”
He said coordination will also be emphasised in monitoring aid for the people.
“Many are involved in this… religious councils, the Social Welfare Department, Defence Ministry (Mindef). Too many are in this.
“We have to coordinate. Now, we are looking into this matter. The same is happening with housing, some are under the People’s Housing Programme, some under Mindef for house repairs under Jiwa Murni. The Housing and Local Government Ministry and state governments, too, are giving.
“All these will be coordinated to avoid duplication.” – Bernama, October 2, 2021
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