Malaysia Update

KUALA LUMPUR: Ministers under the Najib administration will face their first performance evaluation under the key performance indicator (KPI) concept in November.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who announced this after chairing his maiden Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya yesterday, said he had spelt out to his ministers what he expected of them.

Among others, he said they would be judged by their integrity, willingness and preparedness to serve and their ability, saying he had reminded them to give their best always and to have “job satisfaction.”

“They must build a good esprit de corps among themselves,’’ the Prime Minister said, describing the meeting as “lively”.

Najib said it had been agreed that Khazanah Nasional would help with the drawing up of KPI elements, saying that ministers could use the evaluation results in November to review their performance and resolve problems. As the Cabinet was the people’s line-up, he said every minister must be capable of fulfilling the people’s high expectations and hopes.

Najib said he told the ministers not to work with only their communities in mind but to give their assistance to every ethnic group. “The bottom line is that any decision should be made with the interests of the rakyat in mind although it is important for the Government to continue with private sector-friendly policies.

“I have told the Cabinet members that with the current political situation, the people have become more critical and they should not assume that it’s still business as usual. There must be change and renewal.

“I emphasised on the need for them to hold discourses and dialogues with various groups so that any decision will really have the people’s interests at heart,” he told reporters at his residence in Jalan Langgak Duta here.

Asked if any minister would be dropped if they failed to hit the minimum requirements of the KPI, Najib said the Cabinet was fully aware that the future of the Government depended on them and the way it performed.

On the dissatisfaction expressed by the MIC on its representation in the new Cabinet line-up, the Prime Minister said the needs and wishes of every ethnic group should be considered.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said of the meeting: “We were reminded to give our best and to make changes and reforms in areas we feel necessary.”

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek summed it up by saying that Najib wanted ministers to improve on their efficiency.