Kuala lumpur: All government agencies in Malaysia have been urged to move away from working in isolation or silo and adopt a more inclusive, collaborative system to strengthen the country’s social development efforts. Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the outdated ‘exclusive agency’ approach must be abandoned, as real strength lies in the ability of all parties to work together in synergy.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Shamsul Azri emphasized the necessity of shifting from a culture of exclusive agencies to one of collaborative systems to address increasingly complex social challenges. He stressed that effective government governance must be built on a strong ethical and cultural foundation, warning against administrative processes that become hollow routines devoid of human values. The foundation for social strengthening, he noted, is not in power but in the collective progress achievable through collaboration.

Citing ICU eKasih statistics, Shamsul Azri revealed that as of December 31 last year, over 390,000 heads of households were categorized as poor, including nearly 1,800 classified as hardcore poor. He expressed confidence in the collaborative approach involving 117 agencies and 862 community leaders nationwide to ensure greater outreach and effective assistance to those in need.

Meanwhile, the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Seri Dr. Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed, urged officers to be more proactive in reaching out to eligible contributors and their beneficiaries. He highlighted the Social Synergy Program, developed by PERKESO in 2017, aimed at eradicating poverty and improving household income, ensuring no one eligible for assistance, especially within the B40 group, is left behind.

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.