Studying exemplary practices in Sabah’s public sector

The newly-formed Special Review Commission on Civil Service Transformation is studying exemplary practices in Sabah’s public sector which are to be emulated in other states and federal government’s administration. Its chairman, Tun Zaki Tun Azmi, said there were several approaches practised by the state government that could be introduced and help improve the management and service delivery of public sector in other parts of Malaysia.

He said the state government had displayed, among others, an outstanding performance in human resource management aspect, something that could be very useful for maximising the performance of government agencies in other states.

“We found that the number of workers in the public sector in Sabah has decreased. They can reduce (workers) when everywhere else, there is a need to increase (the number of employees). “So, how do they manage to cut down the number of workers in the public sector without sacrificing quality, and in fact there has been improvement in the delivery system as well as their budget. “What I want to mention here is that we can learn a good thing from Sabah, that’s the message we take,” he told reporters here yesterday after a meeting with State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman.

The meeting held at Wisma Innoprise was aimed at identifying ways to improve delivery system in the public sector and also attended by representatives from Cuepacs. Zaki said among the matters discussed during the meeting included criteria and terms for appointment in the civil service.

“We will develop and submit proposals to the government on how we can improve in this particular aspect for the benefit of our civil servants,” he said. He added that the commission would be meeting with federal departments in Sabah and visit a medical facility in Teluk Sepanggar today before continuing their study tour of schools in Sandakan on Wednesday.

The Special Review Commission on Civil Service Transformation was formed following announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in March that the special commission comprising relevant interest groups would be set up. Apart from Zaki, who is a former Chief Justice, the commission comprises six other former senior government officers, and is assisted by the Planning, Research and Corporate Division of the Public Services Department that serves as its secretariat.

The main purpose of the commission is to study remuneration and the type of civil service required in the future and was given a mandate to present recommendations to the government within six months.

However, the recommendations will be considered according to the government’s financial capacity.

Source: Borneo post