KUCHING, March 9: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan is questioning whether the Sarawak civil service is truly practicing meritocracy in its recruitment system.
Despite this not being a new topic in Sarawak, he said he had to bring up the issue after hearing contradicting comments from the top leaders of the Sarawak government.
Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian on Sunday (March 5) said meritocracy should also be considered when recruiting civil servants in Sarawak, other than fulfilling a quota based on ethnicity.
Days later on Wednesday (March 8), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi called for a revamp of the SCS recruitment system to ensure a civil service workforce that is based on meritocracy and is racially balanced with more Chinese and Dayaks employed.
While both Dr Sim and Nanta voiced their concerns about the lack of meritocracy in Sarawak’s civil service, Voon said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan had said otherwise.
Quoting a news report back in Dec 2, 2022, Voon said Awang Tengah had stated that the Sarawak civil service practices a recruitment and selection system based on merit.
“Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan are all in the government. Who should the people listen to now and who is correct?” said Voon in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Voon pointed out that for the past 60 years, not one Dayak or Chinese has held the post of Chief Minister, or now Premier of Sarawak, other than Datuk Stephen Kalong Ningkan.
“Now it is time for the Dayak and Chinese to re-think their positions and ability to enter and take top posts in the civil service and in Cabinet,” he added. — DayakDaily
