RM200,000 cash awaits Sabah's top innovation
Published on: Friday, May 30, 2014
Kota Kinabalu: More than half-a-million ringgit has been allocated to hold the public sector's Innovation Day to hail innovations that have made an impact on the public service. State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman on Thursday said RM320 million has been given by the State Government and another RM220 million from the Federal Secretary's Office as award cash prizes and cost for organising the event here."The organising of this event is in tune with the Government's call so the public services sector initiates efforts to make innovation a culture and recognises the quality, value and high-impact innovations," he said during the launching of the event, here.
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He said the Government knows the need for continuous improvement of delivery system due to the increasingly tougher customer demands. Hence, the public sector has to think of ways to handle this challenge on a limited resource, cost-saving measures, without affecting the various government development programmes, Sukarti explained. "I believe only through creative thinking will these challenges be handled," he said. Sukarti said agencies must create a conducive environment, which would spur creative thinking and staff innovations. He said in line with the initiative, the State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Secretary's office and various federal agencies, introduced the innovation awards, which have nine categories.
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"This will be the highest form of award for public sector recognition," said Sukarti, adding that it will be an annual event. The most coveted prize is the Chief Minister's Innovation Award which comes with a RM200,000 cash prize and is open to all government agencies, private sector, non-governmental organisations, statutory bodies, government linked companies, institutions of higher learning, district offices and individuals.
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Others include State Secretary Innovation Award and the Federal Secretary Innovation Award which comes with a RM50,000 cash prize for both categories. And RM50,000 each for the Financial Innovation Award, ICT Innovation Award, Local Government Innovation Award, District and Land Administration Innovation Award, while RM30,000 for the Counter and Customer Management Innovation Award. He said winners of the awards will be announced on two occasions and he handed over prizes to three recipients out of five categories supposed to be announced at the ceremony. The remaining four main awards will be announced this Oct 31 where the Chief Minister will also be present. Meanwhile, Sabah Credit Corporation bagged the Financial Management Innovation Award, Bank Simpanan Nasional took the Information Communication Technology Innovation Award, while Lembaga Tabung Haji bagged the Counter and Customer Management Innovation Award. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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