STAR RATING SYSTEM FOR SABAH MINISTRIES

Star rating system for Sabah ministries

SANDAKAN: The state government is now committed to improve the performance of its ten ministries by implementing a star rating system, according to deputy state secretary Datuk Maznah Abd Ghani.

• She said six ministries have been evaluated while the remaining four will be rated by June.
• Among the ministries that have been evaluated are Finance; Tourism, Culture and Environment; Community Development and Consumer Affairs; and Local Government and Housing.
• Under the system, the ministries’ performance would be rated on a scale of zero to five stars in terms of management, core services and complaints management, she said during the Client’s Day organised by the State Public Complaints Bureau in cooperation with Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) at community hall here.
• The system, which started end of last year, is aimed at ensuring these ministries provide the best services for the people, she said.

Maznah said the system has been well received by the heads of the ministries as they believe it is a positive approach in changing the mindset of the staff towards improving their services.

She said Sabah is the first state to implement the system to rate the performance of its ministries.

She said it is not easy for the ministries to get a five star rating as it would mean near perfect performance with minimal complaints.

Meanwhile, Maznah said a lot of changes have taken place in the civil service as a result of the application of information technology.

And with the improvement in the scheme of service, she said public servants should strive hard to make changes both in themselves and in the organisation.

The Client’s Day, which was aimed at fostering good relationship between the public and government agencies, was also attended by State Public Complaints Bureau director Haji Jamil Atan, Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) president Datuk James Wong and  SMC deputy president Haji Hamsan Awang Supain.