143 VARIA RANAH 2023 Malaysia MADANI: Promote Civic Consciousness, Unity and Social Justice in Public Service Furthermore, civil servants need more awareness and understanding of civic engagement and community involvement (Public Service Department, 2018). Many civil servants do not see their role extending beyond delivering essential services and do not actively engage with the public to address their needs and concerns. This can lead to a lack of innovation and creativity in public service delivery, as civil servants may need to understand the needs of the communities they serve fully. Malaysian public service must prioritize civic education and training for civil servants. This should include education on the principles of good governance, the importance of citizen engagement and community involvement, and the need for transparency and accountability in decision-making. Civil servants should also be encouraged to engage with the public regularly and seek feedback from citizens to improve public service delivery actively. In conclusion, the Malaysian public service faces several issues related to civic consciousness, including the lack of emphasis on civic education, transparency in decision-making, and awareness of the importance of civic engagement. Addressing these issues will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the government, civil society, and the public service. By prioritizing civic education and training, increasing transparency in decision-making, and promoting citizen engagement, the public service can work towards building a more informed, accountable, and responsive government that truly serves the public interest. B. Unity Unity is a crucial component of a prosperous society. In Malaysia, public service is vital in promoting unity among the diverse communities that make up the country. However, several issues related to unity in the public service need to be addressed to ensure that civil servants work together effectively to promote national unity. One of the main issues related to unity in public service is civil servants' need for cultural competency. Many civil servants must be adequately trained in intercultural communication and understanding, leading to community misunderstandings and tensions. This lack of cultural competency can also result in a lack of respect for diversity and perpetuate stereotypes and biases. Parker and Novak (2019) highlight the importance of cultural competency in public administration and examine the extent to which civil servants in the United States possess cultural competency skills. The study found that many civil servants need to gain cultural competency skills, which can lead to adverse outcomes for individuals from diverse backgrounds interacting with government agencies. The authors suggest that improving cultural competency training for civil servants could lead to more equitable and effective public service delivery. Furthermore, more collaboration and coordination among government agencies and departments should be needed. Without this, it can lead to duplication of efforts, inefficient use of resources, and a lack of coherence in policies and programs. This lack of coordination can also result in a lack of trust among different communities, as they may feel that their needs need to be adequately addressed. In addition, there are challenges to coordination in multilevel governance systems, which involve multiple government agencies and departments at different levels of government (Egeberg, 2012). In addition, the public service should work to increase collaboration and coordination among various government agencies and departments, which can be achieved through improved communication and information-sharing and the creation of multi-disciplinary teams to address complex social issues. Finally, the public service must prioritize promoting unity and understanding among different communities, which can be achieved through promoting cultural events and activities and creating initiatives that encourage dialogue and understanding between other
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