Kuala lumpur: Malaysia must evolve from a culture of 'planning excellence' to one of 'delivering excellence' to ensure that its numerous national policies translate into tangible results and real impact for the people, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. He emphasized the need for the country to move beyond creating well-crafted visions and strategic blueprints and focus on effective implementation to ensure national progress.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zambry highlighted that Malaysia is recognized for developing some of the best blueprints, carefully crafted by experts and benchmarked globally. However, he expressed concern that despite this recognition, the country often falls short in implementation, with many promising policies stalling between Cabinet approval and community impact. He addressed these issues during his opening speech at the International Conference on Public Policy and Leadership (ICPPL) 2025 at Universiti Malaya.
The conference, themed "Megatrends and Future Directions in Public Policy, Leadership and Sustainable Development," is a three-day event that gathers policymakers, scholars, industry leaders, and public policy practitioners. The aim is to engage in forward-looking discussions on the pressing challenges and opportunities shaping governance, leadership, and sustainability in a rapidly evolving world. Notable attendees included Universiti Malaya Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Ir Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman and PEMANDU Associates President and CEO Datuk Seri Idris Jala.
Zambry called for a fundamental cultural shift towards a "delivery mindset," emphasizing the importance of managing initiatives to completion with clear accountability. He stressed the necessity of transitioning from policy announcements to disciplined project management. This includes having a dedicated team, measurable outcomes, timelines, milestones, reporting routines, and learning loops for every major policy to ensure active management rather than mere launch.
He also underscored the importance of breaking away from working in silos and promoting shared accountability, as public policy is a collaborative enterprise requiring cooperation amongst various agencies. Meanwhile, Idris Jala, in his keynote address, discussed the implications of global trends on public policy, including issues like an ageing population, countries grappling with debt crises, and regulations on artificial intelligence (AI).
During a question-and-answer session, Idris addressed concerns on AI development, emphasizing the need for public education on responsible use and the avoidance of misuse.