Today Star…
It is virtuous to work longer hours, says Najib
PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants should condition their minds to work harder and longer to increase the countrys productivity and realise the National Mission, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
He said there was no substitute for hard work.
Work is a virtue and not a punishment, he said while addressing the monthly gathering of staff and officials of the Prime Ministers Department here yesterday.
Najib said it would not be too much to work nine or 10 hours a day.
Imagine what would Malaysias productivity be like if we can work nine or ten hours a day for the next 10, 20 or 50 years, he said.
He said civil servants should therefore change their mindset and work harder, and utilise all their capabilities to implement programmes under the National Mission.
Najib said there were several techniques that could be used to change peoples behaviour and habits. One of them was mind reframing.
I want to share with you how Royal Prof Ungku Aziz uses this technique to avoid consuming sugar.
He sees sugar as poison in his mind and refrains from taking it. I have tried this technique myself and now take tea without sugar, he said.
Likewise, he said, we could reframe our minds to regard extra work as a virtue.
Najib said economic growth and productivity would be stunted if working hours were limited, like in some European countries where it has been limited to only 35 hours a week or seven hours a day.
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I believe, if the present Government staff are more dedicated and committed to their work they may not need to work long hours .
We do come across few very committed staffs in Govnernment service.