Rais Strives To Make Ministry More Effective

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) - Despite wide-ranging in scope, the Information, Communications, Arts and Culture Ministry will be able to execute its functions more effective by dividing the tasks correctly, said its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim

He said the ministry would beef up its "thinkers" and formulate clearer polices and instructions to ensure its effectiveness.

Rais said he would give his deputies, Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum and Senator Heng Seai Kie specific tasks to make the ministry more efficient.

"We do not have to change the ministry's philosophy. The ministry has more sting with the enforcement of the Communications and Multimedia Act, and the role of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

"With the powers vested in the ministry, it will make nation building easier," he told reporters at the handing over of duties ceremony at Angkasapuri here today.

Rais takes over from Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek who has been appointed Youth and Sports Minister.

Rais, who was Information Minister from 1984 to 1986, said although there was hardly any difference in the ministry's functions during his tenure and now, what was more pertinent was enhancing the quality of services to the people.

"The ministry will champion the use of Bahasa Melayu, uphold the National Language Act and help realise the 1Malaysia concept advocated by the prime minister," he said.

Rais said the integration of the communication divisions would enable the ministry to expand the enforcement of the Communications and Multimedia Act to encompass private television and radio networks.

The feedback from the people will be of great value to the ministry in formulating its policies, he said, adding that officers would be trained to acquaint themselves with the policies.