1Malaysia Concept (2)

1Malaysia

1Malaysia (pronounced One Malaysia in English and Satu Malaysia in Malay) is an ongoing programme designed by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on 16 September 2010, calling for the cabinet, government agencies, and civil servants to more strongly emphasise ethnic harmony, national unity, and efficient governance.

Logo and slogan

An official logo and slogan has been introduced along with the launch of 1Malaysia concept. The logo is the symbol of '1' which incorporates the national Jalur Gemilang flag and the word Malaysia. The government has spent RM38 million to promote Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s 1Malaysia concept in 2010, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T Murugiah.

Slogan

Year       Theme

2009       Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan (People First, Performance Now)

2010       Menjana Transformasi (Generating Transformation)

2011       Transformasi Berjaya, Rakyat Sejahtera (Transformation Successful, People Prosperous)

2012       Janji Ditepati (Promises Fulfilled)

2013       Didahulukan Rakyat (People First Product)

Ideology

1Malaysia stresses national unity and ethnic tolerance. The 2010 values of 1Malaysia as articulated by Najib Razak are:

a.            perseverance,

b.            a culture of excellence,

c.             acceptance,

d.            loyalty,

e.            education,

f.             humility,

g.            integrity, and

h.            meritocracy.

Public policy

Improving government efficiency is an important aspect of 1Malaysia. The use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), metrics and targets more typically used in private business, and National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) is thus naturally an important part of the 1Malaysia effort. Najib says, "The government is committed to carrying out a transformation programme as its main agenda based on approaches and philosophy of 1Malaysia – people first, performance now."

Immediately after assuming the office of Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak introduced a series of KPIs to measure and improve the efficiency and quality of government services as well as realising the 1Malaysia concept. Najib said that KPIs were implemented to ensure “the people’s satisfaction...whether they are satisfied with our service, whether we have solved their problems.”

Najib's announcement of the KPI effort was generally well received. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the KPI formula was a yardstick against which the people could measure the performance of Najib and the government. He said the KPIs would provide motivation for every minister to perform well.

The KPIs provide a mechanism for the evaluation of ministries and other government agencies including performance reviews carried out every six months. Each ministry has been required to establish specific KPIs including that focus on policy outcomes over the traditional emphasis on inputs typically found in government performance assessments and planning. KPIs include detailed job descriptions and goals for ministers, deputy ministers, and some other senior government officials.

Najib has identified six major policy areas in which KPIs will play an especially important role in improving the effectiveness of the Malaysian government. These are known as National Key Result Areas (NKRAs). The NKRAs include:-

1.            crime prevention,

2.            reducing government corruption,

3.            increased access to quality education,

4.            improvements in the standard of living for low income groups,

5.            upgrades to rural infrastructure, and

6.            improvements in public transportation.

Najib also introduced a new cabinet position to support the Unity and Performance Minister in implementing the KPI system. Idris Jala, the former CEO of Malaysia Airlines, was appointed Minister without a Portfolio and CEO of Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu), to work with Dr. Koh Tsu Koon in training over 500 government officers to implement the KPI system. As CEO of Pemandu Idris will support the work of Koh, who is the minister in charge of National Unity and Performance Management.

National campaign

The 1Malaysia concept is being promoted through a wide range of activities.

Prime Minister Najib has instructed the National Civics Bureau or Biro Tata Negara (BTN) to use its courses and seminars to educate present and future civil servants, politicians, and community leaders about 1Malaysia and promote national unity. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad stated, “We will ensure that the BTN courses also inculcate the 1Malaysia concept and its eight values, namely high performance culture, accuracy, knowledge, innovation, integrity, strong will, loyalty and wisdom.”

Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) and private television channels have incorporated ideas from 1Malaysia into numerous TV programs. The use of multi-lingual hosts and actors from different ethnicities is one of the methods uses to promote national unity.

1Malaysia clinic

 Prime Minister Najib's Budget 2010 includes funding for 50 medical clinics to provide basic medical services for illnesses and injuries such as fever, cough, colds, wounds and cuts, diabetes, and hypertension. Malaysia citizens are charged RM1 for treatment and medication. Non-citizens are charged RM15.

1Malaysia email

It was announced that the RM50 million contract was awarded to a company called Tricubes Bhd to run the 1Malaysia e-mail project as part of the government's social networking project in which free email accounts would be given to the public to communicate with the government. There has been criticised by the public and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat on the sheer waste of money involved and that Tricubes previously was in financial difficulty. After the public outcry Najib had to backtrack stating that this was a private sector initiative and that acceptance of the email accounts was voluntary. Protests has been organised against the project on Facebook and parodied on a website.

1Malaysia Development Berhad

A government-owned firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad was formed through the renaming sovereign wealth fund called Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA). Through Najib's efforts the company has focus on strategic development projects in the areas of energy, real estate, tourism and agribusiness. However the company has been saddled with controversies such as the purchase of overpriced land from Tadmax Resources, a company linked to the Port Klang Free Zone scandal.

Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (1Malaysia People's Grocery Stores)

In 2011, the 1Malaysia franchise was branched off into a grocery store franchise going by the name Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M), with the first store being located at the Kelana Jaya Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) station in Kuala Lumpur. The franchise was aimed at allowing the low income group to obtain cheaper groceries and lightening their burden besides bringing Malaysians closer to the significance of 1 Malaysia.[ Complaints have been made regarding the claims that the groceries sold in at KR1M were more expensive compared to those sold in hypermarkets around Malaysia. There have been allegations of poor product quality in its product line, namely children's milk powder, fresh milk, condensed milk, sweetened condensed creamer, oyster sauce, fruit jam, canned chicken curry, mango cordial, ghee compounds, peanuts, creamy peanut butter, Crunchy peanut butter, crispy peanut butter and fish tinned sardines in tomato sauce. KR1M has instructed its suppliers to send their products for periodical laboratory testing.

NGOs

1Malaysia Foundation

The 1Malaysia Foundation (Y1M) Foundation was established in 2009 to promote and develop the idea of 1Malaysia. Y1M works to co-ordinate and supplement government and private-sector activities related to 1Malaysia. Chairman of the Y1M Board of Trustees, Dr Chandra Muzaffar said, "Y1M is planning to expand and strengthen the commitment from all Malaysians towards national unity through various activities to increase public awareness and community development."

1Malaysia Youth Fund

The 1Malaysia Youth Fund was launched to provide financial support for young people to undertake creative projects that nurture national unity. RM20 million was allocated for the fund under Malaysia's budget passed in 2010. The fund was proposed by the Barisan Nasional Youth Lab.

Prime Minister Najib said that 1Malaysia Youth Fund reflected the government's commitment to empowering young people. "The scope and the projects should address three criteria – focus on nurturing unity in Malaysia, have a multiplier effect on the general community, and be led by young people. The objective is to encourage youths to use their imagination to the fullest. We want them to be creative and innovative. Maybe their ability may exceed our expectations and maybe they can do something which has not been thought of by us,” said Najib.