Latest news with #SocialSynergyProgramme
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Govt agencies told to move away from working in silos, says Chief Secretary
KUALA LUMPUR: All government agencies in Malaysia have been urged to move away from working in isolation and adopt a more inclusive, collaborative system to strengthen the country's social development efforts. Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said that the outdated "exclusive agency" approach must be abandoned, as true strength lies in the ability of all parties to work together in synergy. "In the face of increasingly complex social challenges, we can no longer operate in silos. We must shift from a culture of exclusive agencies to one of collaborative systems," he said in his opening speech at the Social Synergy Congress 2025 on Tuesday (Aug 5). The event was also attended by the Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department director-general Datuk Seri Sollehuddin Alyubi Zakaria, and Social Security Organisation (Socso) group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed. Shamsul Azri emphasised that effective government governance must be built on a strong ethical and cultural foundation, cautioning against administrative processes that become hollow routines devoid of human values. "Without noble values in governance, processes are merely empty routines, lacking soul and spirit. At the same time, a culture without a system risks leading our efforts astray. Therefore, culture and process must go hand in hand. We must combine the spirit of humanity with systematic is the true space for a better, more meaningful administration," he added. Citing ICU eKasih statistics, Shamsul Azri revealed that as of Dec 31, 2024, more than 390,000 heads of households had been categorised as poor, including nearly 1,800 classified as hardcore poor. He expressed confidence that the collaborative approach involving 117 agencies and 862 community leaders nationwide can ensure greater outreach and more effective assistance to those in need. Meanwhile, Mohammed Azman urged Socso officers to be more proactive by going to the ground to identify and reach out to eligible contributors and their beneficiaries, ensuring the timely delivery of social protection. He said the Social Synergy Programme, developed by Socso in 2017, was created to eradicate poverty and improve household income by ensuring that no one eligible for assistance, especially within the B40 group, is left behind. "We want to ensure that when tragedy strikes, the first person to knock on a grieving family's door is not a debt collector, but Socso, bringing social justice and support in times of hardship," he said. The Social Synergy 2025 Congress, now in its third edition, attracted over 400 participants. This year's theme, "Culture or Process", explored the importance of merging human-centred values with an efficient delivery system to build a more compassionate and capable governance framework. – Bernama
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Stop working in silos, Chief Secretary tells govt agencies
iyliamarsya@ KUALA LUMPUR: Government agencies must break free from working in silos to address increasingly complex social challenges, says Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. Shamsul was speaking at the Social Synergy Congress, where he praised the Social Synergy Programme, an initiative under the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) that works with various stakeholders to deliver aid to those in need. "In facing increasingly complex social challenges, we can no longer work in silos. We must break free from the culture of agency exclusivity and embrace a collaborative system culture," he said. He described the Social Synergy Programme as a "holistic and inclusive intervention approach" and a "strategic solution framework" that brings together the strengths of the government, government-related bodies, government-linked companies (GLCs), the private sector, and NGOs. This multi-agency approach helps to empower and save lives, and aligns with the integrated approach he often emphasises in public service reform, he said. He added that the programme reflects the Madani government's approach to making social policies more humane, responsive, and people-centred. Shamsul said these reforms also align with the prime minister's call to tackle poverty through multi-dimensional efforts involving both governmental and non-governmental actors, as outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). The government has allocated over RM20 billion for poverty eradication under the 13MP. The plan outlines four key pillars: enhancing economic complexity, increasing social mobility, accelerating public service reform, and improving the wellbeing of people and environmental sustainability. "Under the pillar of increasing social mobility, emphasis is placed on strengthening inclusive development and improving the socio-economic status of target groups, while ensuring balanced progress between urban and rural areas," he said. According to data from the Prime Minister's Department's Implementation Coordination Unit, there were 390,000 household heads categorised as poor as of Dec 31, 2024, with 1,800 families in the hardcore poor category.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Streamlined Perkeso initiative sees 44,998 in B40 group receive aid
KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) has extended assistance to 44,998 individuals nationwide through its Social Synergy Programme from 2019 up to July this year. Its chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed, said the initiative has streamlined the aid process by eliminating the need for individuals to knock on the doors of multiple social aid agencies. "The programme, first developed in 2017 as a Perkeso initiative, was designed to eradicate poverty and enhance the standard of living by ensuring that eligible recipients, particularly those in the B40 group, are not left out of the assistance ecosystem. "The issue of exclusion error was highlighted in a 2018 global monitoring agency survey, which revealed that 34 per cent of Malaysian households who were eligible for aid did not receive the financial assistance they urgently needed," he said in his speech at the Social Synergy Congress today. To address this, he said the Social Synergy Programme, which to date has recorded 979 collaborations involving 117 agencies and 862 community leaders nationwide, now acts as the eyes and ears of Perkeso. Azman cited an example where, upon the death of a contributor, strategic partners immediately alert Perkeso to verify the next of kin's eligibility for benefits. "All strategic partners complement one another by matching individuals in need, referred to as prospects, with the relevant agencies under the umbrella of the Social Synergy Programme. "I am pleased to share that between 2019 and July this year, 44,998 prospects from across the country were successfully channelled to various agencies for aid. This integrated approach means those in need no longer have to seek help from one agency after another," he said. He added that Perkeso officers must not remain passive behind counters, waiting for contributors or their next of kin to come forward. "Instead, Perkeso must be proactive by going to the ground to identify and assist eligible contributors and their families. We must be present to lift those who have fallen. "We want the first knock on the door of a grieving family to come not from a debt collector, but from Perkeso, delivering social justice in their time of need," he said. Speaking about the congress, now in its third edition, Azman said it was more than just a physical gathering. "It is a manifestation of unity among various agencies in our mission to eradicate hardcore poverty and to build an inclusive and sustainable social protection network. "With the theme 'Social Synergy Programme: Culture or Process?', this congress invites us to reflect critically — is Social Synergy merely an administrative process governed by models and guidelines, or has it evolved into a culture of inter-agency collaboration rooted in values of humanity, empathy and care?" he said. During the event, Perkeso also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with three strategic partners, believed to strengthen its mission of building a comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable social protection system. The signing, held in conjunction with the Social Synergy Congress today, involved the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda), the Darul Ta'zim Family Development Foundation (YPKDT), and One Hope Welfare & Charity. The partnership between Perkeso and the three organisations covers cross-agency referral of aid recipients, targeted data sharing and matching, as well as the empowerment of human capital through skills development and socio-economic support.
Barnama
21-05-2025
- General
- Barnama
- Skuad Perkeso Prihatin: A Decade Of Revolution So None Falls
Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. At our counters, quiet heartbreaks came into view. Widows, children, the elderly, some visiting long after the trauma had passed, unaware that assistance had always been their right. A routine check revealed the scale of the silence. Accidents, deaths, fires and floods arrived in many forms. The stories were everywhere on television, in print and now on mobile feeds. Malaysians were slipping through the cracks, not because they were unreachable, but because no one had gone looking for them. There was a time when the names of the forgotten filled the headlines, and PERKESO knew it could no longer stand still. A mother picked up a second job because her husband's injury cut off the household income. These were not just stories, instead our hard reality. That was the moment of reckoning. If social protection only responded when the paperwork arrived, it was too late. It was time to go beyond the counter. Many claims were never filed. Lives were altered, dreams abandoned, all because someone did not know they could ask for help. A child dropped out of school after losing a father. The squad began with one mission, that is to be physically present. Not just to offer condolence letters or confirm eligibility, but to bring humanity into the room. To comfort families. To explain rights. If tragedy had no timetable, then neither should our service. We needed to be where the suffering began, not where it ended. And so, in 2015, Skuad PERKESO Prihatin was born. It did not come from a policy paper, rather a birth from conscience. To ensure that the first knock on the door was not from a bill collector, but from someone extending support. This was not charity but social justice. But the more we showed up, the more we discovered. The gaps in delivery were not emotional but they were systemic. According to the last Bank Negara Malaysia report, despite Malaysia channelling RM17.1 billion into more than 60 social programmes in 2019, too many were missing out. Aid was dispersed across ministries, state departments, religious agencies and non-governmental bodies. Everyone meant well. But too often, we were helping the same families twice, while others got nothing at all and were left dry. The system was bloated with good intentions but starved of coordination. There were overlaps in rudimentary support. Multiple agencies managed separate lists, guarded their own data and worked in silos. The result was a social safety net that was stretched thin and tangled. No single agency had the full picture. And those who needed help the most were still being asked to run from counter to counter, retelling their grief in every queue. We knew it had to change with us on the pedestal for revolution. In 2019, PERKESO introduced the Social Synergy Programme, a coordinated, cross agency ecosystem that turned fragmented goodwill into focused action. It brought together partners from federal ministries and state bodies to zakat centres and local councils, in line with 'no wrong door' policy. It dismantled the maze and replaced it with one simple promise: you need help, and we will bring the entire cavalry comprising over 300 agencies with us. Social Synergy, about Reclaiming Dignity Social synergy was not just about sharing resources. It was about reclaiming dignity. It meant one family, one visit, one case file with full spectrum of aid: job matching, reskilling, financial relief, childcare, psychosocial support and more. The system listened, responded and adapted. It moved from help desks to home visits, from memorandums to real-time referrals, resulting in 39,656 channelled cases nationwide for their life to be resuscitated with timely aid. But collaboration alone was not enough. We needed precision. So, in that same year, we built MySynergy System, a digital platform developed in-house by PERKESO. It was designed to do what decades of decentralised record-keeping could not. It tracked cases, flagged duplication and allowed agencies to see what had been done, what was missing and what could be offered next. This is not merely a database, instead it is a compass to generate guided decisions. It ensures accountability and allows social protection to become what it is always meant to be, efficient, integrated and compassionate. Today, as Skuad PERKESO Prihatin marks a decade of tireless service, we are no longer just bearing witness to suffering. We are changing how the country responds to it. Therefore, we are now pushing for the Social Synergy Programme and MySynergy System to be recognised as Malaysia's national platform for social protection, interlinked with existing databases across agencies. Not just as a PERKESO success story, but as a public service revolution. Because the truth is plain. Aid delayed is opportunity denied. A child's dream deferred because the system stalled. A widow burdened because help got lost in red tape. It should never happen, not on our watch. Let us not mistake bureaucracy for policy or complexity for progress. Let us be clear in our mission, that is to protect, to respond, to lift. Within a decade, from boots on the ground, Skuad PERKESO Prihatin today strides forward with an ever-growing legion of collaborators under a whole-of-government approach, reaching deeper into communities through united action and strengthened partnerships. Empowered by the MySynergy System, it continues to evolve by leveraging technology to monitor, coordinate and deliver support with precision, compassion and national scale. Now is the time to do more and carry forward the mandate. To ensure that no Malaysian is left behind. Let this be the next chapter, not of celebration, but of commitment. -- BERNAMA Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed is the Group Chief Executive Officer of PERKESO.
New Straits Times
13-05-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Skuad Perkeso Prihatin: A decade of revolution
There was a time when the names of the forgotten filled the headlines, and the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) knew it could no longer stand still. Accidents, deaths, fires, and floods arrive in many forms. The stories were everywhere — on television, in print and now on mobile feeds. Malaysians were slipping through the cracks, not because they were unreachable but because no one had gone looking for them. At our counters, quiet heartbreaks came into view. Widows, children, the elderly — some visiting long after the trauma had passed — were unaware that assistance had always been their right. A routine check revealed the scale of the silence. Many claims were never filed. Lives were altered and dreams abandoned, all because someone did not know they could ask for help. A child dropped out of school after losing a father. A mother picked up a second job because her husband's injury cut off the household income. These were not just stories — they were our hard reality. That was the moment of reckoning. If social protection only responded when the paperwork arrived, it was too late. It was time to go beyond the counter. If tragedy has no timetable, then neither should our service. We need to be where the suffering began, not where it ends. Thus, in 2015, Skuad Perkeso Prihatin was born — not from a policy paper but from a conscience awakened. The squad began with one mission: To be physically present. Not just to offer condolence letters or confirm eligibility, but to bring humanity into the room; to comfort families, explain rights and ensure that the first knock on the door is not from a bill collector but from someone extending support. This is not charity but social justice. And the more we showed up, the more we discovered. The gaps in delivery were not just emotional, they were systemic. According to the latest Bank Negara Malaysia report, despite Malaysia channelling RM17.1 billion into more than 60 social programmes in 2019, too many people were still missing out. Aid was dispersed across ministries, state departments, religious agencies and non-governmental bodies. Everyone meant well but too often, we were helping the same families twice, while others got nothing at all. The system was bloated with good intentions but starved of coordination. There were overlaps in rudimentary support. Multiple agencies managed separate lists, guarded their own data and worked in silos. The result was a social safety net stretched thin and tangled. No single agency had the full picture and those who needed help the most were still being asked to run from counter to counter, retelling their grief in every queue. We knew change had to start with us. In 2019, Perkeso also introduced the Social Synergy Programme — a coordinated, cross-agency ecosystem that turned fragmented goodwill into focused action. It brought together partners from federal ministries and state bodies to zakat centres and local councils, in line with the "no wrong door" policy. It dismantled the maze and replaced it with one simple promise: "You need help, and we will bring the entire cavalry, comprising over 300 agencies, with us." Social Synergy was not just about sharing resources; it was about reclaiming dignity. It meant one family, one visit and one case file with a full spectrum of aid: job matching, reskilling, financial relief, childcare, psychosocial support and more. The system listened, responded and adapted. It moved from help desks to home visits, from memoranda to real-time referrals, resulting in 39,656 cases channelled nationwide for timely, life-changing aid. But collaboration alone was not enough. We needed precision. That same year, we developed the MySynergy System, a digital platform built in-house by Perkeso. It was designed to do what decades of decentralised record-keeping could not: track cases, flag duplication and allow agencies to see what had been done, what was missing and what could be offered next. This was not merely a database — it was a compass. It ensured accountability and allowed social protection to become what it was always meant to be: efficient, integrated, and compassionate. Today, as Skuad Perkeso Prihatin marks a decade of tireless service, we are no longer just bearing witness to suffering — we are changing how the country responds to it. That is why we are now pushing for the Social Synergy Programme and MySynergy System to be recognised as Malaysia's national platform for social protection, interlinked with existing databases across agencies. Not just as a Perkeso success story, but as a public service revolution. Because the truth is plain: Aid delayed is an opportunity denied. A child's dream deferred because the system stalled or a widow burdened because help got lost in red tape — this should never happen, not on our watch. Let us not mistake bureaucracy for policy or complexity for progress. Let us be clear in our mission: to protect, to respond and to lift. Within a decade, from boots on the ground, Skuad Perkeso Prihatin now strides forward with an ever-growing legion of collaborators under a "whole-of-government" approach, reaching deeper into communities through united action and strengthened partnerships. Empowered by the MySynergy System, the squad continues to evolve, leveraging technology to monitor, coordinate and deliver support with precision, compassion and national scale.
