IT is relatively easier to transform an average performing state to a successful one than trying to make a successful state like Penang even more successful, says Penang State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus.
Jailani, 60, who took office in December last year, didn’t think twice when he was offered to serve in Penang after requesting for a change in work environment.
Prior to his transfer to Penang, he was working for the Ministry of Rural Development.
Coming to Penang was historic for the lad who hails from Perak as this was his first time working for a state government.
“It is a blessing for me to come to Penang and take on such an important role, especially after seeing the amount of success this state has achieved in important economic sectors.
“I was happy when I stepped into my office here for the first time knowing that I am in a place that’s been successful in many ways, and it gave me the extra drive to carry out my duties with great determination.
“Even before joining the state government here, I was aware of Penang and its achievements in countless areas. This was because my wife’s hometown is Kedah, and we’ve been visiting Penang frequently in the past.
“When my daughter was young, she kept asking if we would ever move to Penang some day. She loves the beaches here and obviously because Penang hails as one of the best holiday destinations, not only across Malaysia but worldwide as well.
“Other than that, Penang is a friendly state that is always concerned about the well-being of the people here.
“The public facilities are very user-friendly in certain places, and I can tell that the leaders running the state here are extremely influential and of high caliber.
“When I attend the weekly state executive council (exco) meetings that’s chaired by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, I could see that he has a line-up of members that are equally fantastic in pitching ideas to improve the state’s economy, as well as executing and materialising those ideas.
“That is why I regard managing the success that Penang already has achieved and improving on it as my biggest challenge. But there’s always room for improvement.
“While the state has done so much for the economy and its people, we should always strive harder to reach greater heights,” Jailani told Buletin Mutiara during an exclusive interview in his office at level 25 in Komtar on Feb 15.
While Jailani seems to be a nice person to speak to during the interview with his calm and cheerful demeanor, he has zero tolerance for lacklustre performance when it comes to work.
“In life, we need a balance in almost anything we do. I can have a chat and laugh my lungs out during a conversation, but when it comes to work, I have least or zero tolerance for under par performance.
“For those who have been to my office, you will see I have three different working spots.
“One is a round table where I always work on my daily tasks; the other is a casual table with sofas when I receive guests and friends; and lastly, the one spot that’s less friendly and often has a sour ending for the one sitting opposite of me,” he added.
When asked about other challenges he had faced since taking office, he was quick to mention how badly the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked and slowed down the state’s economy.
“Although many sectors were dampened, the collective efforts from all degree of support points have kept us going in this Covid-hit era.
“As the State Secretary, one of the many tasks is to facilitate the revival of the state’s economy,” Jailani said.
Jailani, who will retiring in a few months’ time, has worked in six different ministries and departments.
“I don’t see years of working experience as a factor to stop me from performing my best.
“From where I come, it is unsurprising to witness individuals being transferred within a year’s time, a month’s time, days or even hours.
“For example, we all know for a fact that a tortoise has a longer lifespan than a mosquito. But which of these two has a bigger impact, particularly on us?
“Mosquitoes can cause all the misery to make your life a living hell. The impact is greater than what a tortoise can do, even though a mosquito has a shorter lifespan.
“It’s not always about the years of service, but the number of achievements we record during our years of service. Now, that’s what really matters.
“Don’t think about yesterday as it’s over, and don’t worry about tomorrow because it is not certain. Live the moment, get the job done today and things will happen as it is,” Jailani added.
With a PhD in environmental management and landscape ecology from Hiroshima University in Japan, it is safe to acknowledge Jailani as the media guy.
Although from a different education background, he had a soft spot for content creation. This later played a significant role in his rise to becoming the deputy director-general for Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) from 2009 to 2014.
“I had a very unpleasant welcome at RTM when I first entered because the people there saw me as a stranger with a completely different forte entering an unfamiliar neighbourhood.
“Although I had least or no experience at all in the media field, my passion for reading made up for my little knowledge on the subject.
“Sooner or later after initiating a few programmes there, my staff finally saw the potential in me and we worked closely on multiple occasions, mainly to push for increased RTM viewers,” he added.
Jailani’s motto in life is simple – BE PREPARED.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar