KUCHING, March 8: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Secretary General Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi is calling for a revamp of the Sarawak civil service recruitment system to ensure a civil service workforce that is based on meritocracy and is racially balanced with more Chinese and Dayaks employed.
In a statement titled ‘Sarawak Civil Service Recruitment System – In Need Of A Meaningful Change’ posted on his social media page today, he said following his statement suggesting more Dayak and Chinese recruitment, he had received many responses and was also asked for more clarification if he had meant it.
“Yes, I am serious in calling for a more meaningful change and improvement in the current system being applied in the recruitment of civil service officers in the Sarawak government.
“The objective is to improve the current system to ensure fair opportunity to everyone of various ethnicity wishing to serve the State Civil Service.
“The easiest way is to be guided by a quota system at the crucial intake stage, and then a follow-through with continued fairness at all levels of promotion. Of course, promotions must also be based on ‘merit’ system,” said Nanta, who is also the Works Minister.
He was impressed and fully supportive of Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent announcement that the latter wanted the Sarawak civil service to be top notch to ensure the best development and service for Sarawak.
The Premier declared that the State Civil Service would hire the best and that they are to be duly rewarded with higher emoluments.
“This is indeed a very good move, but more than just that, the basic principles of ‘on merits’; productivity; able to ‘hire and fire’; integrity and inclusivity, must also be an integral part of the scheme for revamping the State Civil Service,” said Nanta.
Since Abang Johari has admirably recognised the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), he suggested that the next move is to ensure fairness in opportunities to all.
“After all, much has been said about inclusivity, so lets just do it fairly,” said Nanta.
He clarified that he brought up that matter not with the intent to seek personal glory or mere popularity with this issue.
“Believe me or not, the widespread discontentment has always been simmering all this while, but admittedly as I have pointed out above, the situation has indeed changed for the better in the recent years,” he said.
Expressing his gratitude to Abang Johari who had shown sincere interest and effort to achieve a more racially balanced Sarawak civil service, Nanta held that it is “good but not enough. Still, the revamping has got to be done for real and beginning now”.
Nanta called for support from those sharing the same opinion and urged them to continue to appeal to the leaders of Sarawak to make the necessary change and improvement in the system.
“Let’s make it real for all Sarawakians to feel contented, happy and have a sense of belonging,” said Nanta. — DayakDaily
