Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today called on newly appointed chief secretary to the government Mohamed Sidek Hassan to enhance the existing close relationship between the public and private sectors to further develop the economy.

The prime minister said Mohamed Sidek's vast experience in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) was sorely needed for the task.

Mohamed Sidek, 55, was Miti secretary-general from Oct 24 2004 until last Friday when he officially took over as the top government servant from Samsudin Osman whose contract had expired.

He started his career as an assistant secretary in Miti in 1974 and had vast experience in the ministry, including having served as Malaysian Trade Commissioner in Sydney, Australia.

"I believe Sidek Hassan is well-placed and has the experience to lead the public service and all the civil servants at a time when we are pooling our manpower in the public and private sectors to build up our economic strength," said Abdullah who introduced Mohamed Sidek to the staff of the Prime Minister's Department at their monthly assembly here this morning.

Stepping up cooperation vital

According to Bernama , Abdullah said it was vital to step up cooperation between the two sectors so that the public sector could play a complementary role to that of the private sector as generator and engine of growth for the country's economy.

This meant that the public sector's role was not confined to enforcing laws and regulations and implementing policies but was extended to other matters like helping the government to present views, feedback and suggestions to resolve implementation problems, he said.

Abdullah hoped that Mohamed Sidek's experience in chairing meetings with the private sector, participating in economic dialogues, both local and international, and in preparing free trade agreements would guide him in his task and mission as chief Secretary to the government.

Abdullah also touched on the need for civil servants to appreciate the song, ' Cemerlang , Gemilang dan Terbilang ' (Excellence, Glory and Distinction), which had been chosen as the theme song for the national mission, in efforts to chalk up more successes for the race and country.

"If today we are excellent, be more excellence, make it glorious. If it's already glorious, make it distinctive," he was quoted as saying by the national news agency.

He said the lyrics reflected the challenges in the National Mission, namely the race to achieve the highest level of meritocracy.

He also said that the public sector must improve on its 24th-place ranking in the Public Sector Competitive Index 2005, after rising from 28th in the previous year.

"I believe it can be further improved to be among the top 10...we cannot be satisfied with what we have achieved. We must strive to take the success to another plane," he said.