Ads 656

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 6

Positive implication of Human Capital Development: Public trust and support

The positive implication for Human Capital Development is public trust and support. Public
trust and support is crucial for a ministry to operate. This is because when the public trusts
and supports the ministry, it shows that the ministry is transparent with their governance.
Moreover, it is imperative that the defense ministry maintains transparency in its operations
and decision-making procedures. Transparently sharing policies, costs, and results with the
public promotes confidence by keeping them updated on military operations. Other than
that, a defense ministry that invests in the human capital development of its personnel is
likely to gain public trust and support. Also, the public tends to support a military that is
well-trained, professional and demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement. In
addition, by upgrading the development of human capital it can also help the morale of
personnel to improve where it can also reduce the corruption that occurs among the defense
ministry.
For instance, last January, the Ministry of Defense canceled five procurements
involving supplies, services and infrastructure projects as a measure to avoid leakage in
expenditure on the process. This is because of the current government policy which values
transparency in governance. In addition, the Ministry of Defense does not hesitate to report
any leaks and non-transparency in the procurement process to the authorities. Other than
that, to show the transparency within the ministry, The Ministry of Defence has agreed with
the recommendation of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to submit a progress report on
the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) littoral combat ship (LCS) second generation patrol
vessel project every three months until the LCS project is completed. This is because, to
avoid any leaks and misconduct in the procurement process and at the same time to prevent
the crime of corruption between the ministry. By doing these, it can boost the trust of the
public as the Ministry of Defence improved their governance by developing the morale and
well being of each personnel in the ministry. Moreover, a rise in trust also forms a good basis
to strengthen links with the public.
Negative implication: Cost Overruns
Although the reform in the Ministry of Defense has a positive impact on the country, in order
to make a reform, many things need to be taken into account, such as the country's
finances. Other than that, there may also be challenges and negative implications
associated with the process. Then, one of the negative implications of the reform is cost
overruns. Cost overruns happen when real project expenses surpass originally projected or
budgeted project expenditures. Moreover, cost overruns can occur in several types of
projects such construction, infrastructure development, software development and other
initiatives. A multitude of reasons could lead to these, including unanticipated difficulties,
modifications in the project's scope, imprecise preliminary approximations, inflation,
postponements, or unforeseen circumstances.

Then, developing domestic manufacturing capabilities may lead to increased costs,


especially in the initial phase, as the infrastructure and technology investment can be
substantial. This is because the defense projects usually involve cutting-edge technologies
and complex systems and because the development of these technologies can be more
challenging and costly than initially anticipated. Furthermore, considering the amount of
money required, the skill that must be developed, and the competitiveness of the weapons
business, fostering an indigenous defense sector is extremely difficult. Also, the cost related
with research, development and implementation of new manufacturing processes may
exceed the initial estimates by the defense ministry.In addition, to strengthen domestic
manufacturing requires skill development and training. Thus, it takes money for education
and training to develop a skilled labor force capable of managing advanced manufacturing
processes. If skill development programmes are longer than expected or include more work
than expected, costs increase. Other than that, to produce military products, it must be in a
good quality because the end users are the members of the Armed Forces of Malaysia who
will depend on those products in time of war or armed conflict. Other than that, when the
cost overruns happen, it will lead to financial challenges and the government may need to
require additional funding to implement the project which will strengthen domestic
manufacturing in the Ministry of Defense.
DISCUSSION - THE FUTURE OF THE AGENCY
There are various advantages of the reform of the Ministry of Defence. Firstly, for
strengthening domestic manufacturing is strategic independence . It means the country no
longer needs to depend on the other country with the imported products. Then, building a
strong domestic manufacturing sector helps a country become more strategically
independent by lowering reliance on outside vendors for vital defense technologies and
equipment. Other than that, the main objective of the Malaysian government is to strengthen
domestic manufacturing of defense products to reduce its reliance on defense imports.
Moreover, the defense ministry also focuses on developing a modernized ‘smart army’ using
cyberspace technology and the state-of-the-art system as the initiative that would reduce
reliance on traditional equipment such as battle tank shops and weaponry, instead favoring
crewless aerial vehicles, drones and cybersecurity-related equipment that usually are
imported from foreign countries. Secondly, for Human Capital Development which can
increase morale and motivation of each personnel. This is because when the personnel
receive adequate training and opportunities can lead to higher morale and motivation among
the military personnel. Morale and motivation are important elements in the organization
especially for the public organization like defense ministry. This is because morale and
motivation can shape the behavior of the personnel in the defense ministry and at the same
time also help to form good leadership in the organization. Aside from that, it might affect
their output and dedication to the goal of the organization. Lastly, for enhancing collaboration
with other agencies the advantage is effective counterterrorism measures. The cooperation
between defense and law enforcement agencies is important for developing and
implementing effective counterterrorism strategies, including intelligence sharing and
coordinated operations. This is because terrorism and violent extremism are the factors that
could affect international peace, security, human rights and sustainable development. Thus,
national action and cooperation between other agencies are key elements that could help to
address these issues effectively.
Then, although the reform can provide benefits to the ministry, there are also
disadvantages from this reform. Firstly, the disadvantages for strengthening domestic
manufacturing are quality and standards concerns. This is because the local industry may
initially struggle to meet the same quality and standards that are produced by the
international manufacturers. Moreover, rapidly expanding manufacturing may lead to several
challenges in maintaining and high-quality production. Also ensuring that every product
meets good quality standards can be a complex task. Other than that, if the defense ministry
relies heavily on domestic manufacturing, it may make the defense supply chain more
susceptible to disruptions. The manufacture of essential defense components may be
impacted by natural disaster, geopolitical events, or other unanticipated situations, which
could cause delays and shortages. Secondly, is resistance to change. This is because the
implementation of human capital development programmes may encounter resistance from
some individuals within the organization. One possible cause of resistance is an
unwillingness to accept new organizational structures, technology, or methods. Furthermore,
resistance to change may lead to a reluctance for personnel to adopt new technologies and
methodologies. As a result, this can result in human capital possessing outdated skill sets
that are not aligned with the evolving requirements of modern defense operations. Moreover,
resistance to change could lead to difficulty in attracting and retaining talent. It may be
difficult for the defense ministry to draw in and keep great personnel if it has a reputation for
being resistant to change. This is because professionals with expertise are frequently drawn
to companies that are innovative and forward-thinking. Lastly, is communication challenges.
Generally, to have good cooperation, it needs clear and efficient communication. Then,
because of differences in communication styles, practices and protocols among agencies
may lead to misunderstanding and misinterpretation that can affect the cooperation.
Furthermore, security is a significant priority in the defense industry, and interagency
communication must follow stringent security guidelines. This can occasionally make it
difficult for information to flow freely and make it difficult to set up safe and effective
communication channels. In conclusion, a thoughtful and well-managed reform effort takes
into account both the advantages and disadvantages, addressing challenges systematically
while maximizing the benefits for the Ministry of Defense and the nation it serves.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, the process of reforming a Ministry of Defence is complex and dynamic, and it
has a significant impact on how the public views and evaluates a country's armed force.
Furthermore, a well-run reform programme is essential for building public trust,
accountability, and openness as well as for responding to changing security concerns. Then,
there are several positive implications of the Ministry of Defense which are enhanced military
capabilities, improved strategic planning, and the cultivation of a more professional and
adaptable armed forces. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the reform process is not
without its challenges and potential negative implications. This is because successful
implementation may encounter obstacles from resistance to change and budgetary
restrictions. Then, the government needs to address these obstacles by striking a delicate
balance between modernization. Other than that, the ultimate objective should be to
establish an organization that not only protects the country but also inspires public trust,
reflects democratic ideals, and contributes to global peace and stability as defense ministries
adapt to meet the demands of a constantly shifting security situation. Therefore, the reform
of the Ministry of Defense is a continuous journey toward building a resilient, adaptable and
accountable defense that serves the best interests of the nation and its citizens.

REFERENCE:

Bernama. (2023). Astro Awani . Retrieved from Mindef laksana tender terbuka, batal
lima perolehan terdahulu:
https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/mindef-laksana-tender-terbuka-b
atal-lima-perolehan-terdahulu-402736

Bernama. (2023). Astro Awani . Retrieved from Mindef ready to submit LCS progress
report every three months - Adly:
https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/mindef-ready-submit-lcs-progres
s-report-every-three-months-adly-446304?utm_source=news_keyword_widge
t&utm_medium=data-embed&utm_campaign=20231212%20News-Keyword-
mindef&_gl=1*1fzvsg5*_ga*NDM5NDE3NTU4LjE2Njc1NTAxNj

International Trade Administration . (2022). International Trade Administration .


Retrieved from Malaysia - Country Commercial Guide - Aerospace and
Defense :
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/malaysia-aerospace-and-d
efense

UNODC. (2022). UNODC. Retrieved from Defence Minister welcomes UNODC’s


efforts in advancing cooperation on counter-terrorism:
https://www.unodc.org/southasia//frontpage/2022/December/maldives_-defen
ce-minister-welcomes-unodcs-efforts-advancing-cooperation-on-counter-terro
rism.html

You might also like