DPM: M'sia ready to cooperate with Capam to establish PPP

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is ready to cooperate with the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) and the Commonwealth Secretariat in establishing a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Commonwealth Centre of Excellence.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysia can use its vast experience in PPP to collaborate with other Commonwealth partners, particularly in capacity building and consultancy.
"This (the cooperation) would allow Malaysia's experience in PPP to be shared via CAPAM's vast network," he said.
"The proposed centre would also allow exchange of information on PPP efforts undertaken in other Commonwealth countries and allow best practices to be benchmarked that can be shared by all," he added.
Muhyiddin said this in his keynote address at the opening of the three-day CAPAM Biennial Conference 2014 themed "'Public Service Transformation: A New Conversation' at Putrajaya International Convention Centre here today.
Also present was Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr. Ali Hamsa, CAPAM president Paul Zahra and 1,500 delegates from 53 countries.
Muhyiddin said that Malaysia has more than 30 years of experience in PPP and has implemented more than 600 PPP projects involving a total capital expenditure of RM182 billion.
"The interest in PPPs has grown in recent years across the world, and the need for fiscal restraint in some countries is expected to further widen its application," he said.
He also said that it is not sufficient for government agencies alone to work together as one entity in serving the public.
Muhyiddin also congratulated Ali Hamsa on his appointment as the new president of CAPAM 2014 - 2016.
Meanwhile, Ali Hamsa said the CAPAM's theme shows the need for public servants to demonstrate diverse approaches in responding to the different needs and increasing expectations of citizens and stakeholders.
In transforming public service, he said, one should embark on the concept of 'Humanising the Public Service' that requires the delivery of the best service to the citizens.
Citing an example in Malaysia, he said, PPP project includes 27 toll highways, privatisation of government buildings in Putrajaya and six MARA University of Technology (UiTM) branch campuses.
He added they are also in the midst of tackling urbanisation, one of the challenges that impacts the quality of public service delivery, with the Urban Transformation Center (UTC) that was initiated to provide key government and private sector services under one roof.
At present there are seven UTCs operating seven days a week, except during public holidays, beyond normal working hours and among them are the Immigration Department, the Inland Revenue Board, the police and 1Malaysia clinics.
To coincide with the conference, an international run was held with some 3,200 people from 12 countries taking part that offered prize money totalling RM50,800.

As for the winners, it was an all-Kenyan affair in the main event, with Julius Kiprotich Seurei notching the top spot in the men's 22km run, clocking 1 hour 7 minutes 38 seconds.
His countrymen, John Lorono Lorila and Hosea Kogei, finished second and third respectively in 1'08:04s and 1'10:23s. The run was held at Dataran Putrajaya.
In the women's 22km run, Peninah Kigen led the pack of Kenyan runners, clocking 1'22:42s, followed by Edinah Jeruto Koech and Mary Wangui Kiguru in 1'25:01s and 1'25:52s, respectively.