THE 13th Executive Development Programme (EDPSGO) closed Wednesday with a ceremony that saw the most number of participants receiving certificates and awards for their successful completion of the programme.

Held at the Tarindak D’Seni Restaurant adjacent to the Arts and Handicrafts Centre in Jln Subok, the ceremony was officiated by Dato Seri Paduka Eussoff Agaki Hj Ismail, the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. Also present were Permanent Secretaries, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, the Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police along with other senior government officers.

Throughout the course, the participants attended briefings from Deputy Ministers and senior government officers and also visited several local companies.

They also had discussions with government officials from Sabah on a visit they made during the course.
“I view leadership as a fundamental factor in bringing about changes and de-velopment,” Dato Eussoff Agaki said in his welcoming remarks Wednesday night.

“Therefore I am urging the leaders in their respective organisations to always be proactive and vigilant in finding new ideas to improve the level of quality and efficiency in the service being provided,” he said.

To date, a total of 203 senior government officers have successfully completed the programme that seeks to find contemporary approaches in the areas of Public Policy and Management. “It is also important to remember that as a person climbs higher up the ladder, his responsibilities climb as well,” the Deputy Minister said.

He also reminded participants of the recent launching of the Strategic e-government Plan 2009-2014, where heurged respective organisations to work on e-government projects not with just fellow government agencies, but other stakeholders too.

“The e-government *projects hope to contain flagship qualities that can be used to raise the level of connectivity and interaction,” he said, referring to the “Whole Government” approach that ultimately hopes to raise the government’s image in terms of providing quality service.

Quoting John C Maxwell, the Deputy Minister finished by saying: “To think that life at the top is easier, is to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Being at the top has its own set of problems and challenges. In leadership — no matter where you are in the organisation —the bottom line is always influence and respect.”

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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