Speech by Amb. Dato’ S. Thanarajasingam
Ambassador of Malaysia to France
Annual Staff Day of the Embassy
Friday, 13 November 2009
Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Paris
Datuk Kenneth Luis, Permanent Representative to UNESCO,
En. Adlan Mohd. Shaffieq, Head of Chancery,
Mrs. Simone Dubois, Chief Clerk,
Friends, All Home Based and Locally Recruited Staff
Good afternoon, Selamat Petang & Bonjour,
1. I would like to welcome all of you to the Third Annual Staff Day organized by the Embassy of Malaysia in France since I arrived here in August 2006. It is in fact a special occasion specially organised to give due recognition as well as show our appreciation for the diligence and commitment demonstrated by all the Locally Recruited Staff in the course of their work during this year.
2. When we held our last Staff Day in November last year, the world was in the grips of uncertainties and decline as the Wall Street financial meltdown engulfed the rest of the world. One year later, we are all witness to the deepest and largest financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1920s. Countries around the world - be it rich or poor, developed or developing, have suffered a marked slowdown in economic growth, a steep rise in unemployment and increased social costs.
3. Being a country with an open economy deeply integrated with the global economy, Malaysia, like France, has been adversely affected by the crisis. The crisis has exacerbated the challenges of a profoundly changing world in a globalised era. More importantly, the crisis has exposed the excesses of unbridled market forces, especially when greed and avarice supplant corporate and social responsibility.
4. The financial and subsequent economic crisis was aggravated by the deadly Influenza A (HINI), which quickly developed into a global pandemic, with various repercussions including further retarding tourism.
5. The lessons learnt by Malaysia from the Asian Financial Crisis of the late 1990s have enabled us to meet and mitigate the impact of the current crisis. Additionally, under the leadership of the current Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak, the Government is finalizing a new economic model to steer the country ahead through these turbulent times.
6. YAB Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, despite being in office only from April 2009, has breathed new life and given fresh directions in governance, which has invigorated the country. The Prime Minister has introduced the concept of ‘1Malaysia, People First, Performance Now’ – a concept which is timely and relevant to address the challenges we face, both internally and externally.
7. Within the context of ‘People First’, the Prime Minister has emphasized the importance of paying due attention the increasing needs of the public. In a globalised age characterized by information technology together with a more informed and critical public, members of the public sector remain under closer public scrutiny. I hope all of you, both Home Based and Local Recruited Staff, will maintain a high standard of service, answering calls in a polite manner, providing instant and correct replies to their enquiries and requests.
8. As for ‘Performance Now’, the Prime Minister expects the government machinery to perform to its potential in an expedient and professional manner. Indeed, it underlines the belief that there exists vast scope for quantitative and qualitative improvement for those involved in providing services and assistance to the public.
9. In order to achieve these objectives, the Prime Minister has introduced three key management tools, namely Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Key Responsibility Areas (KRA) and KPA or Key Process Area. All these are tools to measure and ensure that the service to the people are provided and government policies fully implemented.
10. As you can see, the government has taken its commitment towards transparency and efficient management to a higher level with the introduction of KPIs, KRAs and KPAs. At the Embassy, we too have our own KPIs, which I am confident we would be able to achieve through diligence and determination. The challenge for us in 2010 is increase productivity, albeit with less financial resources, as our operating budgets will be trimmed.
11. Let me reiterate that you hold your future in your own hands – it is up to you to make the most of the opportunities made available at the Embassy. Let me be clear – there will be consequences for shoddy work and unconstructive attitude; just as there will be rewards for those who truly excel.
Friends,
12. I am happy to inform that the Prime Minister was very pleased with his first Official Visit to France last month. The Prime Minister himself stated that the outcome and the success of the visit had exceeded his own expectations. This is a testament that if we all work hard as a team we can scale new heights.
13. The work ahead for 2010 is to ensure that the decisions and commitments made by our two leaders during the visit are realized. I am confident that we can achieve this objective if we all embrace excellence and constantly remind ourselves of ‘Peoples First, Performance Now’.
14. Before I conclude, both Saradha and I wish to thank all of you for the support and assistance given to us during the last three years and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thank you.