PUTRAJAYA: Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Zuki Ali and former Public Services Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam were among those who took part in the federal cabinet ministers' working retreat programme yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the presence of the two figures was an added-value to the one-day programme, which was attended by 27 other cabinet ministers and 10 senior government officers.
"This was the difference in this time's retreat (with Zuki and Ismail's presence). We heard their opinions as well as several department heads.
"I had last month stressed that there needs to be compatibility between the country's executive leadership and civil servants.
"But we are not done yet and we will also hear from Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun as well as Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
"If we are serious about bringing about change, we must recognize that we must work together as a strong team," he said at the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly at Dataran Perdana, Perdana Putra.
Anwar said civil servants should not be afraid of bringing changes to the existing decades-old system and they must not remain within the culture of contentment.
While acknowledging their strengths, Anwar said civil servants must be inspired to make changes upon the appointment of new leaders.
"What I have learnt in this short time, if there is diplomatic approach (pendekatan lunak), majority will be with us.
"But we must learn to accept strengths, admit weaknesses, and most importantly, have the determination that the country must be politically stable, have a clear direction, and be strong-willed to bring change.
"If we have this mindset, I believe we can do it," he said.