Fix problems, PM tells officials

Yingluck chaired a meeting of high-ranking ministry officials and permanent secretaries to create a joint vision to identify strategies to execute government policies.

The PM said the main management problem was the lack of an integrated approach to development. Last year’s flood showed structural problems in the bureaucratic system that could not handle a crisis situation. The budget system also failed to cater for the emergency situation. State agencies still work with a vertical, complicated centralised system.

“We need to work in a decentralised horizontal system and work as a team in order to drive an integrated management approach,” she said.

To reduce the complexity of the system, ministries are being asked to improve management, manpower and money, or 3M. The PM asked officials in all ministries to identify internal and external prob?lems and prioritise them before solving and doing evaluations on problem solving.

“There need not be finger pointing during the evaluation process. We should all accept mistakes and keep improving,’’ Yingluck said.

“I am serious with my work. Many ministries may be criticised but I only offer constructive criticism in order that they modify working styles to improve efficiency. If anyone has a problem, please come to me and we can have a frank talk. I am ready to work shoulder-to-shoulder with all high ranking officials and will not abandon them because we share the same goal in working for our country and the people,’’ she said.

Government spokesman Sansani Nakpong said the PM had given three major policies to the ministries to improve their efficiency and create income distribution for the rural areas and focus on conserv?ing energy and the environment.