Page 45 - DevelopmentSynergy
P. 45
inancial control is in place. It is improper to empower people, who are not
subjected to checks and balances or who cannot have self-discipline to follow
procedures.
Unavoidably, empowerment will become a prominent feature of the civil
service in future. However, power requires a stronger sense of responsibility
so that the people can stand on their own feet. They must be guided by the
discipline as they have to assume greater responsibility in carrying out their jobs
in the services of the people, state and country. As we build the administrative
system, based on the development administration, and as we gear to work closely
with the private sector, we must be prepared to have more power and assume
greater responsibility in carrying out our jobs. However, empowerment should
not do away with control, which is a very important thing, although it gives a
lot of autonomy and initiatives. Some balance will have to be worked out from
time to time.
I have authorised the State Secretary to give back most of the power to heads
of departments, who should be responsible to matters inside their respective
departments. For example, a head of department has got correct background
and detailed knowledge about things happening in his department. If the
responsibility is not put squarely on his shoulder then the area of responsibility
will become blurred. Generally, people in the higher up places tend to have
generalised outlook on things in a certain department but the head should know
it in greater details. Therefore, heads of departments must be given more power
to ensure that their departments have people with the right kind of talents and
expertise and the machinery must have suficient system of Checks and balances.
As heads of departments get more power, they must also think of the days
when the divisional subordinates will have to exercise more autonomy and
greater initiatives. These are the complicated evolutions of the machinery of the
government and the delivery system by which we can serve the people. It is like
’’
driving a car. You must push up your engine as powerful as possible but you must
have eficient brake system to avoid crashing into the ditch. However, we boost
up the power of the civil service in order to hasten the pace of development.
DEVELOPMENT SYNERGY 43
subjected to checks and balances or who cannot have self-discipline to follow
procedures.
Unavoidably, empowerment will become a prominent feature of the civil
service in future. However, power requires a stronger sense of responsibility
so that the people can stand on their own feet. They must be guided by the
discipline as they have to assume greater responsibility in carrying out their jobs
in the services of the people, state and country. As we build the administrative
system, based on the development administration, and as we gear to work closely
with the private sector, we must be prepared to have more power and assume
greater responsibility in carrying out our jobs. However, empowerment should
not do away with control, which is a very important thing, although it gives a
lot of autonomy and initiatives. Some balance will have to be worked out from
time to time.
I have authorised the State Secretary to give back most of the power to heads
of departments, who should be responsible to matters inside their respective
departments. For example, a head of department has got correct background
and detailed knowledge about things happening in his department. If the
responsibility is not put squarely on his shoulder then the area of responsibility
will become blurred. Generally, people in the higher up places tend to have
generalised outlook on things in a certain department but the head should know
it in greater details. Therefore, heads of departments must be given more power
to ensure that their departments have people with the right kind of talents and
expertise and the machinery must have suficient system of Checks and balances.
As heads of departments get more power, they must also think of the days
when the divisional subordinates will have to exercise more autonomy and
greater initiatives. These are the complicated evolutions of the machinery of the
government and the delivery system by which we can serve the people. It is like
’’
driving a car. You must push up your engine as powerful as possible but you must
have eficient brake system to avoid crashing into the ditch. However, we boost
up the power of the civil service in order to hasten the pace of development.
DEVELOPMENT SYNERGY 43
