A government backbencher today questioned the government's delivery system in light of the incident where Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said was refused entry into the Commonwealth Games Village in Melbourne.

Speaking at the Dewan Rakyat, Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) said the incident was embarrassing and hurt the image of the country.

He wanted officers in Azalina's ministry to do something to ensure this does not recur.

He said the ministry's officers on duty in the Games Village should have been more alert and inform the administrators in advance about the minister's intended visit.

"If we say the officers concerned went there for a holiday or shopping, they will jump," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Improve quality of service

Azalina had gone to the Games Village yesterday to visit Malaysian athletes in their quarters but was stopped by security personnel.

The minister was only allowed to enter the International Zone situated just outside the perimeter of the Village.

She was told that since yesterday was the opening ceremony, nobody except the athletes and officials staying in the village can go in and out.

Raja Ahmad Zainuddin said he was worried that the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which would be implemented this year, might not achieve its goals if the quality of service of civil servants did not improve.

"There is no use in making detailed plans if the system of delivery is weak," he said.

At this point, Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad (BN-Ketereh) interjected to relate his experience of being forced to wait nearly a year and a half to get the signature of the Kelantan Agriculture Department director on a working paper for a cattle rearing project of the Ketereh Farmers Organisation.