The recent Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between India and Malaysia focused on enhancing cooperation in public administration and governance reforms. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. V. Srinivas, Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), and Mr. Datuk Dr. Anesee bin Ibrahim, Deputy Director General of Public Service (Development) from Malaysia.
Key participants included Dr. Surendra Kumar Bagde, Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), Mr. Puneet Yadav, Additional Secretary of DARPG, and other senior officials from both nations. The High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, Mr B. N. Reddy, facilitated the session.
During the meeting, both delegations shared advancements and strategies in administrative reforms and governance. Mr. Puneet Yadav highlighted India’s initiatives such as the Centralized Public Grievance Redressal and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA), integration of AI in governance, and other transformative practices to enhance decision-making efficiency.
Dr. Surendra Kumar Bagde detailed the NCGG’s international capacity-building programs. Representing Malaysia, Dr. Inas Binti Julkipli presented insights into the Malaysian public service and their Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA).
Key outcomes of the meeting include:
- Formation of a Joint Working Group: This group will design training programs for Malaysian civil servants in collaboration with the NCGG. It will consist of members from DARPG, Malaysia’s Public Service Department (PSD), NCGG, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
- Joint Webinar Initiative: Both countries will organize a webinar to share best practices, covering topics such as government right-sizing, the Public Services Act, and performance-based reward systems.
This meeting marks an important step in fostering bilateral cooperation aimed at sharing governance strategies and improving public service efficiency.