PENANG, 6 May 2014 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) strives to realise a public service administration that is based on high performance.

This means that USM hopes to produce officers and administrators who can be a model in ensuring an increase in efficiency and cost effectiveness, practice good governance and be able to face the future challenges at all levels.

USM Registrar Siti Zubaidah A. Hamid said that this is very important for the university of which is part of a public statutory agency to always remain relevant. The university should be able to face the waves of changes that occur in every transaction ranging from the administration and management of schools, centres, units and departments that are closely related to human resource management, academic, research and innovation, student affairs and development, industry and community network.

“We also want to create a lean public service whose work performance embodies excellence. It is not a matter of reducing staff or laying off workers but rather should be seen as a broader effort to improve the task efficiency including the work process,” said Siti Zubaidah.

She added that in realising a high-performance public administration, the need for a dynamic leader to ensure a holistic management and administration at every Responsibility Centre (RC) should be looked into.

In fact the university has always strived to produce quality human capital through a variety of ways, including sending staff on courses including short-term courses to improve themselves.

“Because of that, the University through the Human Resource Development Division exchanged staff between the Schools every five years, although sometimes this exercise is hampered by certain groups or individuals and for that reason we now need to be firm in doing so,” said Siti Zubaidah.

Siti Zubaidah was addressing to about 100 staff from the support group who attended a specially organised Dialogue Session between the Registrar and Non-academic Staff held at the Dewan Persidangan Universiti here today.

The Registrar also spoke about the university needs to produce more officers and support staff who are able to lead as a transformation leader (transformational leadership), able to think tactically and strategically, always having a ‘sense of urgency’, the ability to administer a RC comprehensively and at the same time safeguarding the welfare of fellow colleagues.

“We are also reviewing decentralisation initiatives made previously especially in terms of human resource management and make appropriate changes to meet the requirements if necessary,” Siti Zubaidah added.

She also advised the officers and supervisors to become a ‘role model’ to those they supervise, maintain discipline and avoid acts such as spending too much time outside campus when not on official duty, refrain from using social media that can expose activities or confidential documents and other inappropriate acts.

At the same event, Siti Zubaidah also handed out donations amounting to RM14,806 collected from the campus community to the widow of the late Norizan Hanafiah (USM Security Department staff), Suraya Ramli.

Suraya who was present with four children aged between 5-18 years was overwhelmed with the donation.

“I would like to thank the entire campus community that helped my family although my late husband had only worked for six months as a permanent staff in the USM Security Department before his death,” Suraya said.

The deceased died as a result of a road accident on 15 July 2013 after more than 12 hours in a coma. He was, on that occasion, on the way to the main campus from his home in Sungai Lalang, Sungai Petani.

Suraya who was receiving aid of RM400 a month from the Social Welfare Department, also hoped the meagre amount will see that her children receives proper education and help her manage her household as she has asthma and suffers from hypertension. - Translation: Yong Check Yoon & Tan Ewe Hoe/Text: Mohamad Abdullah/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa