Malaysia's Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, emphasized the crucial role of an efficient and swift civil service in improving the nation's economic landscape. Anwar expressed confidence that if civil servants adhere to these principles in their daily tasks, Malaysia will attract global attention and investments. He cited foreign nations' participation in the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NATSEC) Asia 2024 exhibitions as evidence of their confidence in Malaysia. Anwar also highlighted significant investments from Microsoft, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and ACWA Power, which further demonstrate foreign confidence in Malaysia's potential. Microsoft announced a US$2.2 billion investment over the next four years, while AWS plans to invest RM25.5 billion and ACWA Power will invest US$10 billion over the next decade. Anwar emphasized that the performance of foreign investments, which contributes to the country's revenue, is taken into account when deciding on civil servants' salary increases [fb03b041].
An efficient and swift civil service is crucial for driving economic growth and attracting foreign investments. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's emphasis on the importance of an efficient civil service aligns with Malaysia's goal of improving its economic landscape. By ensuring that civil servants carry out their duties effectively and efficiently, Malaysia can enhance its competitiveness and position itself as an attractive destination for global investments. The investments from Microsoft, AWS, and ACWA Power are clear indicators of foreign confidence in Malaysia's potential and the positive impact of an efficient civil service on the country's economic growth [fb03b041].
In Hong Kong, the civil service has been warned to be cautious when commenting on government policies in a private capacity. Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan, the civil service secretary, stated that civil servants should ensure their personal opinions are not mistaken for official statements. They should also seek permission from their organization if they are interviewed in their capacity as a public employee. The updated civil service code, which came into force on Friday, emphasizes values such as loyalty, dedication, integrity, professionalism, and political neutrality. Civil servants are prohibited from criticizing government policies or supporting opposing views in an official capacity. The code also highlights the need for civil servants to be vigilant about national security risks and to provide reasonable support and protection necessary for work. In addition, the code addresses concerns about civil service healthcare and dental benefits, stating that similar health benefits are necessary to maintain the attractiveness of the public service. The shortage of dentists in the Department of Health has led to the recruitment of private dental clinics to provide treatment for civil servants. The idea of contracting out dental treatment to cities in mainland China is also being considered. However, there are technical difficulties with tracking health records and determining the scope of treatments that can be done outside Hong Kong [62603a9e].
The Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Association is urging the government to prioritize providing dental care services for civil servants in Shenzhen. Association president Li Kwai-yin welcomed the proposal and suggested arranging for civil servants to receive dental care at top hospitals in Shenzhen. A survey found that 57 percent of civil servants are willing to receive dental services in the mainland, with most preferring Shenzhen due to its relative convenience. Currently, civil servants have to wait 40 months between scaling appointments and often face long delays for other urgent dental work. The association also called for the authorities to speed up the implementation of pilot schemes for medical record sharing with the mainland and enhance cooperation between the public and private medical sectors to tackle the shortage of dentists in Hong Kong [cd7a256b].