CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

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 Globalisation

 Processes by which goods, services, capital,

people, information & ideas flow across national
borders (Grewal & Levy, 2009)
 An interdependent global economy requires
exchange or sharing of labor force, production,
ideas, knowledge, products and services across
borders.
 Involves reduction of barriers such as borders,
distances and states.
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 How does it happens?

 Advancement in IT.
 Advancement in telecommunication and
transport system.
 The expansion of MNCs
 The raising of more Open Market.
 Global pressure- Developed countries onto
Developing countries.
 The development of more liberal Trade Laws.

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 Basic aspects of globalisation

 Trade
 Capital movement
 Movement of people
 Spread of knowledge and technology

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 Benefits of globalisation
 International trade can be promoted at a much quicker pace.

 A larger market @ world market for MNCs.

 Variety of choice of goods and services at cheaper price with better

quality.

 Can get cheaper international goods-low taxes or no taxes on import

goods.

 Developing countries can have cheaper access to goods, services and

technology from Developed countries.
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 Disadvantage of globalisation
 Exploitative in nature-widen the gap between the rich and the poor.

 Inability of SMEs/SMIs in Third world to compete with MNCs- will died-off

naturally.

 Weaken the Old Structure and tradition- young generation forget about our own
culture and start adopting western culture.

 Impact on migration- illegal migrations, brain-drained of experts and

professionals.

 Impact on environment- would be harmed & polluted.

 Tension/conflict between economists and environmentalists.

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 Challenges to the Malaysian PA
 Ensuring the benefits to the country as a developing
nation moving on to becoming a developed nation.

 Controlling globalization by legislating relevant laws

and regulations to be imposed by local government
and states.

 Adjusting, modifying and improving techniques,

methodology, management and leadership style in
facing globalization
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 What has the government done?

 Industrial Development Policy

› Export oriented industrialization strategy in 1970’s
› Heavy Industries Corporation of Malaysia – 1980s
› Investment Incentive Act 1968 – to attract domestic &
foreign investment
 Trade liberation
 Financial liberation
 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

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 The environment & development

 Basic concepts;
› Environment – natural surroundings
› Pollution – occurs when pollutants contaminate the
natural surroundings
(http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/PollutionTypes.php)

› Environmental Pollution – ‘the contamination of the

physical and biological components of the
eart/athmosphere system to such an extent that normal
environmental processes are adversely affected’. (Gray,
2012. Retrieved from http://www.tropical-rainforest-animals.com/Environmental-
Pollution.html)

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 Concepts
 Conservation
› The protection of plants, animals, natural areas and interesting
and important structures and buildings, especially from the
damaging effects of human activity’
› Carefully suing valuable natural substances that exist in
limited amounts in order to make certain that they will be
available for as long a time as possible.
› (Retrieved from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/conservation

 Preservation -the act of keeping something the same or of

preventing it from being damaged
› (Retrieved from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/preservation)

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 Malaysian environmental issues

 Air pollution
 Deforestation - Illegal logging & cultivation
 Indiscriminate waste disposal
 Land reclamation

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 What has the government done?

 Environmental Quality Act 1974 – related to the

prevention, abatement, control of pollution and
enhancement of environment in Malaysia

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 Challenges to the Malaysian PA

 Educating the public on the importance of the

environment
 Monitoring the development activities in all parts
of the country
 Enforcing the rules and laws on the environment
 Encouraging support from the public on
conservation and preservation.

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 e-Government

 Started with the initiation of Multimedia Super

Corridor (MSC) in 1996
 Seeks to enhance convenience, accessibility and
quality of interactions with public & businesses.
 Aim to improve;
› information flow & processes within the government,
› speed & quality of policy development
› coordination & enforcement

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 The importance of e-Government

 Increase public usage of e-government

applications
 Quicker & more cost effective way of providing
relevant services & information

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 Challenges to the Malaysian PA

 Providing equal e-government access to all

citizens
 Attitude and adaptability to change among PA
 Training, skills & rewards for public servants
 Resolution of mind-set gap, knowledge & skill-
gap issues
 IT competencies & public sector competencies
(Razlini Ramli, 2012)

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 What has the government done?
 E- syariah – an initiative to enhance quality of
services of the Malaysian Syariah court through
electronic means ( MAMPU,2009)
 E-land – an integrated, comprehensive & user-
friendly land management & administration system
to enhance speed & delivery of public service
(MAMPU, 2009)
 Pemudah – a special task force to support Malaysia’s
transition towards a knowledge driven economy
(Pemudah, 2009)
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 Integrity

 ‘The quality of being honest and having strong

moral principles that you refuse to change’
(Retrieved from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/integrity)

 ‘A quality of excellence that manifested in a

holistic and integral manner in individuals and
organizations’ (IIM, 2004)

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 Integrity of public officials

 Carrying out the trust and responsibilities given

to them in line with public interest.
 Public officials must be transparent, sincere,
accountable to superior and subordinates &
customers.
 Not to misuse power for self interest or
family/relatives’ interest.
 Public interest overrides personal interest.
(IIM, 2004)
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 Factors affecting integrity

 Individual
 Leadership
 Systems and procedures
 Structure and institution
 Culture
(IIM, 2004)

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 The importance of integrity for PA

 Fundamental to the practice of good governance

 Custodian of the ‘public interest’- to serve and
empower citizens
 Maintaining trust in the government

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 Issues in integrity

 Bribery & misuse of power

 Inefficiency in public service delivery
 Ethics & discipline
 Governance and financial administration
(IIM, 2014)

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 What has the government done?

 Government Transformation Program (GTP) –

combating bribery as one of the National Key
Result Area (NKRA)
 Jawatankuasa Keutuhan Tadbir Urus (JKTU) – to
strengthen the administration system by reducing
red tape.
 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act
2009 – establishment of a Commission to make
better provisions for corruption prevention
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 Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 – to
encourage & facilitate the disclosures of
improper conduct in public & private sector by
protecting the person from detrimental action

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 Challenges to the Malaysian PA

 Educating the public on corruption and integrity

 Enforcing the rules and laws on corruption
 ‘The problem of many hands’

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