Neo-Weberian State in a Different Context: The Malaysian Experience

Abstract

Malaysia has undergone a series of civil service reforms, and the article considers one of the approaches to be in line with Bouckaert’s Neo-Weberian State thesis. A Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) under the Prime Minister’s Department works to three core principles; collaborative governance, citizen delivery mindset and commitment from the highest hierarchy level. Collaborative governance is increasingly experimented with but still considered a black box in a non-Western context. The process of innovation is described.