Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof outlined several initiatives aimed at strengthening public participation, particularly among youth and entrepreneurs, in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of national policies.
The minister made this remark on the third day of the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council (LegCo), in response to a question from Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Awang Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan.
The minister explained that the Prime Minister’s Office, through the Management Services Department (MSD), introduced the Regular Public Engagement (RPE) approach in 2018. The initiative was implemented across government agencies through Prime Minister’s Office Circular No. 06/2018.
The RPE approach is supported by Public Engagement Guidelines designed to encourage the participation of stakeholders, including groups directly affected by government policies or those with vested interests.
This includes youth and entrepreneurs as highlighted in the question.
According to the minister, the initiative aims to make stakeholder participation more systematic and effective.
The MSD will continue strengthening the implementation of RPE while expanding engagement with stakeholders and the wider public.
This includes exploring the use of digital platforms to provide more open and transparent avenues for participation.
Public engagement is also supported through the Sua Muka Programme conducted by the Department of Information together with village residents. The programme serves as a two-way communication platform between the government and local communities, enabling discussions on policies, current issues and the needs of residents.
Another initiative, the Masyarakat Bermaklumat Programme (PMB), functions as a channel to disseminate key government messages, particularly those related to curent policies and initiatives.
The programme aims to enhance public understanding, especially at the grassroots level, while also providing a platform for communities to share issues, opinions and suggestions for improvement.
As an added effort to involve youth, the Department of Information also runs several programmes targeting young people.
These include the Graduate Civic Camp Programme for the youth and university graduates, as well as the Rakan Remaja Penerangan programme which engages Year 9 and Year 10 students in government and private schools nationwide.
The minister added that collaboration with sectors outside the government, including the private sector, will continue to be strengthened through the Public Service Transformation Committee (JTPA).
Such cooperation, depending on the matters discussed, aims to ensure cross-sector coordination in policy and strategy, ultimately delivering a comprehensive national impact.
(news source: Borneo Bulletin; pic source: Info Foto, Jabatan Penerangan)
