USM, PENANG, 11 April 2016 – Universities have significant roles to play and contribute to the implementation of the national transformation agenda.

The generation of knowledgeable and high quality talents is one of the factors in determining the success of Malaysia, in its journey into the future to become a high-income developed nation that is inclusive and sustainable.

That was stated by the Director-General, Public Service Department (KPPA), Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal in urging the whole university community to sustain the current momentum of success and to continue with reforms through the sharing of knowledge to ensure that the university would be recognised as a prestigious institution.

“The success of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in being chosen as the APEX university in 2008 has provided the opportunity for it to be positioned in the right trajectory,” he further said when delivering the Inaugural Lecture for the ‘CEO Faculty Programme’ to an estimated 2,000 people that filled the Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra, USM recently.

Added Mohamad Zabidi, in order to maintain the sustainable nature of a university such as USM is not ‘a walk in the park’. Without the continued effort and commitment of the whole university community, USM would not be able to maintain its current respectable position.

“On this basis, I am urging the whole USM community to continue with this momentum of success and in etching the excellence at one of the best-known research universities of global standards,” he said, having served in the civil service for the past 35 years.

He presented on the efforts to transform the civil service which has been implemented for quite awhile, and gave examples of successes achieved portraying excellence and considered to be among the best in the world.

He said that, civil servants too need to project a greater sense of responsibility in their service to the people and the country.

"In fact, we are in the midst of implementing the leadership development programme which is based on the blue ocean strategy, giving emphasis on leadership efforts focusing on public delivery in a manner that is effective, efficient and having high standards," stated Mohamad Zabidi.

Said Mohamad Zabidi, the success of the initiative through the transformation programme implemented by the Public Service Department (JPA) since 2013 has resulted in every investment spent yielding positive outcomes, and the Blue Ocean Leadership (BOL) is the latest initiative to be implemented by JPA with the aim of raising the standards of public service in the country.

He also replied questions fielded by members of the audience.

Earlier, the USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman regarded the Inaugural Lecture as one of the many ‘hands-on’ programme by the top-level civil service leadership in reaching out to the civil servants and the public, as well as in endorsing the new policies to ensure that the civil service would always remain relevant, resulting from prompt and effective deliveries in fulfilling the needs of the target groups.

“USM fully supports and remains committed towards this effort, including in the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Productivity in Public Administration (PIPPA), which constantly strives to realise this noble effort,” said Omar in his welcoming speech in conjunction with the Inaugural Lecture programme.

He explained that, the presence of the KPPA reflected the importance of engagements between the top management in the civil service and the civil servants, which is essential in the transformation process of the nation’s civil service.

Also present at the event were the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching; Penang State Secretary Dato’ Seri Haji Farizan Darus; Penang State Development Officer, Federal Development Office Syed Shaari Syed Abdullah; USM Deputy Vice-Chancellors and university key officials.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Syuhada Abd. Aziz / Photos: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa