Dr Penguang Manggi

SIBU: The Ministry of Local Government and Community Development has implemented a series of measures to ensure local councils are well equipped to provide excellent service.

The ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Penguang Manggi said that local councils, being the third tier of government, was the closest to the community, necessitating the highest level of service delivery. This would satisfy the rate payers’ high expectation of the councils’ services.

“Effective and efficient service delivery is our prime concern in order to meet the current and future needs. And to ensure that the local councils are well equipped in providing excellent service, the ministry has initiated and implemented a series of commendable quality improvement efforts, such as the formulation of five-year strategic plans which reflect choices about how scarce resources and management time should be allocated,” Penguang said when met yesterday.

Among others, this included the implementation of MS ISO 9001:2008 for important core business processes, he said, adding that for a local council to be considered reliable, it should guarantee minimum conditions of reliability for all key management, core and support processes.

“There is also the implementation of a common ICT system for all local councils known as e-LA ICT system besides the implementation of 5S programme to systematically achieve housekeeping, cleanliness, and standardisation in the workplace.”

Still on quality improvement efforts, Penguang added the Star Rating exercise had been completed for all local councils where they were assessed based on a fixed set of criteria.

“We also have the Innovation and Creative Circles to empower local council employees to identify and resolve issues critical to their service delivery.

“Others include reviewing and revamping counter service, restructuring of local authorities, and repeal, review and update the relevant legislation to enhance the enforcement capacity of local authorities.”

Penguang also said they were in the midst of conducting a study with the objectives of transforming the local authorities in Sarawak.

“The ministry will continue to lead and guide all local councils to implement quality improvement programmes, and to involve all councillors and employees of local councils to ensure these programmes are sustainable,” Penguang said.