Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said discussions and brainstorming sessions for post-2020 plan should begin soon so that efforts to achieve its objectives and vision can kick off in another one or two years.

Najib said the country could not afford to waste time and wait until 2020 to formulate its post-2020 vision.

"We must initiate the discussions to set the vision for post-2020 plan. The discourse should involve various groups, including intellectuals, non-governmental organisations and civil society.

"The discourse will take some time, but the brainstorming process on the structure and objectives of the post-2020 plan should begin in the next one or two years," he said at the Association of Administrative and Diplomatic Officers (PPTD) annual dinner 2015 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) in Putrajaya last night.

About 1,400 members of PPTD attended the dinner themed 'PPTD Empowering Synergy, Strengthening Collaboration'.

Also present were chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa, Public Services Department drector-general Mohamad Zabidi Zainal and PPTD president Zainal Rahim Seman.

New public service scholarship model

Najib, who is also finance minister, also announced that the government would formulate a new scholarship model to develop talents in the public service.

He said the current scholarship model did not benefit the government because there were loopholes that enabled the holders to escape from serving in the public service.

"Right now, the government is sponsoring many students, but the nation does not get the chance to benefit from their talents and services.

"Those who don't want to join the public service will purposely fail themselves in the interview to escape serving the government. This is a great loss for the government after spending hundreds of thousands (of ringgit) for their scholarships," he said.

Meanwhile, Najib said PTD officers, who are the thinkers, planners and implementers in the civil service, should think about formulating the country's development strategy in facing the ever-challenging global environment.

He said among the challenges were the slow economic growth, low commodity prices, people's expectations in facing the rising cost of living and extremist threats from the so-called IS militant group and the southern Philippines.

"All this while, we are comfortable (with our security), but now we must raise our level of sensitivity. Don't take matter of security for granted. The country needs to do its level best so that the people are safe from any threats," he added.

- Bernama