NKRA NKPI x NKIP = GTP
Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abd Razak
Comment
Utusan Malaysia - 12/29/2009
If it is assumed that we want to build a house, the dream is now almost achieved. The house design is clear, dimensions are ready and the framework having been agreed to.
Such can be said in building a “new” Malaysia by 2020. Although the 2020 dream clearly reflects our future, the surface of various global crisis, especially economic crisis, it also affects the overall picture for 2020.
.In addition with the fear that Malaysian is trapped with mediocre economy, necessary measures have been drafted to ensure Vision 2020 is achieved.
Hence, the launch of the six National Key Result Areas (NKRA) and the National Key Performance Index (NKPI) to the public recently is a wise move as they not only show the seriousness of the government in building the country’s future , but also the government’s transparency and openness.
If the analogy on the house is used, the government seems t want to share with the people on building the country’s future in line with the principle of the “people first”.
Therefore, it is not surprising, many are touched during the recent Open Day of the Government’s Transformation Programme (GTP) , including those who normally criticise the government.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Idris Jala said that more than 70 per cent of the visitors supported the comprehensive plan of the NKRA and wanted it to be implemented as soon as possible (Utusan Malaysia, 19 Disember 2009).
The six NKRAs area reducing crime (especially street crimes), fighting corruption, widening access to affordable and quality education, raising the living standard of the poor, improving infrastructure in the rural areas and public transportation.
It should be remembered that the contents in the NKRA and NKPI are actually suggestions from the people obtained through dialogue laboratories.
Something that should be made an example in determining “performance first” is that the people are aware of what should be done as they are the ones to evaluate the government’s performance and that of their elected representatives.
If the house should be built using bricks of a certain quality, they can evaluate according to specification.
A house which meets all the specifications will be classified as the most successful or the best here it can be given a rating on the number of stars like that used for hotel rating.
However, there are a few factors to be taken into account. For a house construction, the foundation is the most crucial because if it is not strong, the house will collapse.
Unfortunately, the question on foundation is given less focus compared with the design.
Cases of house collapse on hill slopes is a good example because what is more attractive is how majestic the house look on the hill, instead of how safe it is, as Albert Einstein said “Not all the things that can be counted counts; and not all that counts can be counted.”
Hence, the need to introduce another dimension to ensure success of the NKRA , the NKPI and the GTP.
That dimension is the National Key Intangible Performance (NKIP). What is meant by NKIP generally concerns values – integrity, sincerity, loyalty and sacrifice.
Imagine what will happen to NKRA and NKPI, and even GTP, if they are not based on these values.
According to a study by Tom Peters and his friends as stated in a book in the 1980s - In Search Of Excellence.
Based on their research, there are eight main criteria to gauge organizational excellence. Based on those criteria, 43 but after a few years, only 30 per cent of the organization collapsed. Why?
According to a follow-up research, the organizations collapsed because of “falsifying” of information and data to make them eligible to be classified as excellent.
Therefore, it undeniably that NKRA and NKPI, although important, but have to be based on NKIP to obtain GTP.
The winner of the Nobel Prize in economics field, Joseph Stiglitz, often raises the same question. In fact, according to him, GDP does not reflect the actual quality of life since it is a complex matter and cannot be measured only based on figures.
In conclusion, if a strong ethic is not made the basis of the country’s development, it is not known if the mode we are developing is the best and will remain strong.
Here, it is important the NKIP dimension be enhanced as the main foundation.
This article is translated from the original in Bahasa Malaysia (Utusan December 29), courtesy of Utusan Malaysia
* The writer is the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia. He can be contacted at vc@usm.my
Comment
Utusan Malaysia - 12/29/2009
If it is assumed that we want to build a house, the dream is now almost achieved. The house design is clear, dimensions are ready and the framework having been agreed to.
Such can be said in building a “new” Malaysia by 2020. Although the 2020 dream clearly reflects our future, the surface of various global crisis, especially economic crisis, it also affects the overall picture for 2020.
.In addition with the fear that Malaysian is trapped with mediocre economy, necessary measures have been drafted to ensure Vision 2020 is achieved.
Hence, the launch of the six National Key Result Areas (NKRA) and the National Key Performance Index (NKPI) to the public recently is a wise move as they not only show the seriousness of the government in building the country’s future , but also the government’s transparency and openness.
If the analogy on the house is used, the government seems t want to share with the people on building the country’s future in line with the principle of the “people first”.
Therefore, it is not surprising, many are touched during the recent Open Day of the Government’s Transformation Programme (GTP) , including those who normally criticise the government.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Idris Jala said that more than 70 per cent of the visitors supported the comprehensive plan of the NKRA and wanted it to be implemented as soon as possible (Utusan Malaysia, 19 Disember 2009).
The six NKRAs area reducing crime (especially street crimes), fighting corruption, widening access to affordable and quality education, raising the living standard of the poor, improving infrastructure in the rural areas and public transportation.
It should be remembered that the contents in the NKRA and NKPI are actually suggestions from the people obtained through dialogue laboratories.
Something that should be made an example in determining “performance first” is that the people are aware of what should be done as they are the ones to evaluate the government’s performance and that of their elected representatives.
If the house should be built using bricks of a certain quality, they can evaluate according to specification.
A house which meets all the specifications will be classified as the most successful or the best here it can be given a rating on the number of stars like that used for hotel rating.
However, there are a few factors to be taken into account. For a house construction, the foundation is the most crucial because if it is not strong, the house will collapse.
Unfortunately, the question on foundation is given less focus compared with the design.
Cases of house collapse on hill slopes is a good example because what is more attractive is how majestic the house look on the hill, instead of how safe it is, as Albert Einstein said “Not all the things that can be counted counts; and not all that counts can be counted.”
Hence, the need to introduce another dimension to ensure success of the NKRA , the NKPI and the GTP.
That dimension is the National Key Intangible Performance (NKIP). What is meant by NKIP generally concerns values – integrity, sincerity, loyalty and sacrifice.
Imagine what will happen to NKRA and NKPI, and even GTP, if they are not based on these values.
According to a study by Tom Peters and his friends as stated in a book in the 1980s - In Search Of Excellence.
Based on their research, there are eight main criteria to gauge organizational excellence. Based on those criteria, 43 but after a few years, only 30 per cent of the organization collapsed. Why?
According to a follow-up research, the organizations collapsed because of “falsifying” of information and data to make them eligible to be classified as excellent.
Therefore, it undeniably that NKRA and NKPI, although important, but have to be based on NKIP to obtain GTP.
The winner of the Nobel Prize in economics field, Joseph Stiglitz, often raises the same question. In fact, according to him, GDP does not reflect the actual quality of life since it is a complex matter and cannot be measured only based on figures.
In conclusion, if a strong ethic is not made the basis of the country’s development, it is not known if the mode we are developing is the best and will remain strong.
Here, it is important the NKIP dimension be enhanced as the main foundation.
This article is translated from the original in Bahasa Malaysia (Utusan December 29), courtesy of Utusan Malaysia
* The writer is the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia. He can be contacted at vc@usm.my