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PAD104 Introduction to Malaysian Public Policy Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the topic, students should be able to:
◦Define policy
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO ◦Define public policy
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC ◦Define and differentiate programmes and activities
POLICY ◦Define public advocacy and policy makers

Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak

Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak

Content Outline: Introduction

◦ This chapter provides a general guide to the
Policy Public Policy Programmes breadth of what we call ‘policy’.
◦ In public administration, public policy plays an
influential role in determining government actions.
◦ Policy is often associated simply with legislation
Public Policy and regulation, but in reality it encompasses a
Activities wide variety of activities.
Advocacy makers

Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak

Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak

Definition of Policy Laws VS Policy

◦ Laws and policies are interrelated, but are definitely
two distinctive words. It is important to understand the
difference between a policy and a law.
◦ A policy outlines what a government is going to do or
not, in order to achieve certain objectives for society.
A policy often comes in the Simply put, policy refers to a
form of general statements distinct path of action which is ◦ Laws are rules and regulations, created and enforced
about priorities, written suitable for the achievement by the government. It is passed by the legislature for
implementation.
regulations or guidelines, of desired goals, thereby
procedures and/or standards directing the decision making ◦ Policy paves way for law. Law is the culmination of
to be achieved. of an organization or individual. policy.
◦ Policy does not have punishment for violations. Law is
enforceable with punishment for violations.

Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak

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◦ A policy outlines what a government ministry
hopes to achieve and the methods and
principles it will use to achieve them. It states
the goals of the ministry. A policy document is
not a law but it will often identify new laws
needed to achieve its goals.
◦ Laws set out standards, procedures and
principles that must be followed. If a law is not
followed, those responsible for breaking them
can be prosecuted in court.
◦ So, policy sets out the goals and planned
activities of a ministry and department but it may
be necessary to pass a law to enable
government to put in place the necessary
institutional and legal frameworks to achieve
their aims. Laws must be guided by current
government policy.
◦ Simply put, policy is the beginning of the journey
that ends at law. Law is the end point.
Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak
Programmes are considered a plan of
action to accomplish a specified end.
It includes a plan or schedule of
activities, procedures, etc., to be
followed.
Programmes
VS Activities
Activities are specific deeds, actions,
functions or sphere of action.
Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak
Definition of Public Advocacy
◦ Advocacy means to actively support, influence or
recommend something.
◦ Public advocacy can be defined as an active, covert or
inadvertent support of a particular policy or groups of
policies by members of the public. The public may include
nonprofit organizations, interest groups and even
individuals.
◦ Public advocacy has played a major role in influencing
governmental decisions and legislation. For example, it
was the force behind tough penalties for batterers and
drunk drivers in the US.
Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak
Chai Shin Yi FSPPP UiTM Sarawak
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Definition of Public Policy
◦ Public policy is generally known as what the government chooses
to do, or not to do (Dye 1972). It is a decision made by
government to either act, or not act in order to resolve a problem.
◦ Public policy is a course of action that guides a range of related
actions in a given issue or problem. It does not just take on a
problem, but rather deals with a group of entangled and usually,
long-term problems. For example, poverty.
◦ Public policy can be defined as the “organizing framework of
purposes and rationales for government programmes that deal
with specified societal problems” (Gordon & Milakovich 1995).
◦ “Policy-making is the fundamental activity of governments. It is
through the public policy-making process that governments
establish the framework within which all citizens (human and
corporate) must function; and it is the process via which
governments decide both which societal goals to pursue and how
to (best) pursue them.” (Young 2013).
Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak
Programmes VS Activites
Implementer/Agency Programmes Activities
Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysian Homestay Cultural (traditional dances &
Malaysia Programme songs), economic activities
(rubber tapping), & recreation
(jungle trekking)
Malaysian Government Government Transformation
Programme (NKRAs)
BR1M, BB1M etc
Ministry of Education Integrated cumulative grade English Placement Test,
point average (iCGPA) – English Exit Test
English proficiency MUET
Ministry of Health Oral Health Programme School Dental Service
Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak
◦ Another example of public
advocacy; Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA) had pushed the
Malaysian government for stricter
laws on animal abuse. The
Animal Welfare Act 2015 was
passed in Parliament and came
into force on 1 July 2017. The Act
tightens regulations on activities
involving animals such as a new
licensing system, holding pet-
owners more accountable, and
more importantly harsher
punishments for animal cruelty.
Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak
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Policy makers
Policy comes from those who have authority to impose normative guidelines for action. It is
usually made by elected officials acting in concert with advisors from the higher levels of the
administration.

In Malaysia, government ministers are appointed from members of Parliament (either Dewan
Rakyat or Dewan Negara) who then have the right to articulate policy.

? WHO MAKES PUBLIC POLICIES

Actors who are involved in policy making include:
Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak
Politicians Civil Servants Public
Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak

The Importance of Public Policy

Policy - is a deliberate plan of action to guide decisions
and achieve rational outcome(s). Policies can be
The understood as political, management, financial, and
administrative mechanisms arranged to reach explicit
Relationship goals. Policy merely guides actions toward those that
are most likely to achieve a desired outcome. 1. To respond to issues concerning public (e.g. unregistered nursery, child
between abuse and bully at school).

Public Policy Administration – is described as the implementation of

government policy carried out by public servants.
2. Act as a tool to inform the public regarding national concern and desired
goals (e.g. privatisation policy and national education policy).
and Public Policy and administration are two interconnected 3. To enable public to measure the achievements made by the
Administration activities that is relevant to public administration and
the government administrative process. Public
government.
4. To enhance people’s welfare (e.g. Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), Klinik
administration works on various policies that are Komuniti and Bantuan Sara Hidup)
decided by the government to achieve desired goals.

Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak

In Malaysia, various policies have Suggested Tutorial Questions

been established by the government
to either fulfil public demands, to set
desired goals for the nation or to Question 1:
improve the effectiveness and Define Policy from Public Policy (10 marks)
efficiency of public service.
Conclusion Public participation and policy
Question 2:
evaluation remain the root for a Differentiate programmes from activities in public policy (10 marks)
successful policy.
Question 3:
Differentiate policy advocacy from policy makers (10 marks)

Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak Chai Shin Yi & Nur Afisha FSPPP UiTM Sarawak

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Suggested Tutorial Activities References

◦ Dye, Thomas R. (1972). Understanding Public Policy. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall

Discuss Why Public ◦ Gordon, G.J. & Milakovich, M.E. 1995, Public Administration in America 5th Edition, St Martin’s
Press, New York.

Policy is Important to
◦ Young, Shaun P. ed. (2013). Evidence-Based Policy-Making in Canada. Don Mills, ON: Oxford
University Press

the Citizens
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