The State Public Service Commission

The Sarawak Public Service Commission (PSC) is a body which is given the responsibility by the government to handle matters pertaining to the recruitment of officers in the State Public Service. It has 11 members, headed by a Chairman, Y Bhg. Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Hamdan Sirat and members are appointed by the Tuan Yang DiPertua Negeri.

Its Executive Secretary, Encik Wan Ahmad Tuanku Mahmood spoke to RAKAN Sarawak recently and gave an insight into the workings of the Commission.

“The core business of the PSC is the recruitment of officers into the State Civil Service. We work hand in hand with the Jabatan Ketua Menteri (JKM), who relay to us the number of vacancies arising at a particular time. Our job is to process that information.”

How is the recruitment of officers conducted by the PSC?

“When we receive notice of vacancies from the JKM, for example, for the post of Assistant Land Officer of the Lands & Survey Department, we will put up an advertisement in the major local dailies for 3 consecutive days. The advertisement is open for a one-month period. When applications are received at our office, our staff will feed in the applicants’ particulars in the computers and this will take about 3 - 4 weeks to sort out. After the closing date, the applications will be grouped into specific categories - either Diploma holders or SPM. In the past, the PSC used to handle applications from Degree holders but that task is now managed by JKM. Our summary is then tabulated and passed on to the Commission. We come up with names and issue letters inviting the selected candidates for an interview. Once the interview is over, the panel will decide which candidate to select. The final selection will be tabled in the weekly Commissions’ meeting, endorsed and finally the results of the interview will be conveyed to the JKM. The JKM will issue the Letter of Offer, etc. to the successful candidate and a copy of their correspondence will be extended to the PSC.”

Encik Wan Ahmad also stated that “starting early this year, as provided under the Local Authority Ordinance, we took over staff recruitment and other service matters for Local Authorities in Sarawak except for DBKU and Bintulu Development Authority, BDA. We do not only deal with recruitment but also with probationary period assessment, disciplinary, promotion cases and other service matters.”

Besides recruitment, what other tasks are you involved in?

“We also deal with the promotion of officers; confirmation of their appointment; extension of their probationary period (after 3 years probation on first appoint) - this extension is deemed necessary maybe due to too many candidates in the induction course for instance, and so not all can be accommodated. As a result their probationary period may extend to beyond the initial 3 years, depending on the merits of each case.”

Disciplinary cases

What about cases of indiscipline of Public Officers?

“Government officers are guided and bonded by the General Orders, PSC Rules and Procedures, Circulars, and Treasury Instructions. If found in contravention of these rules and orders, PSC will have to deal with these cases on an individual basis. In 1998, there were 32 disciplinary cases (1999 Annual Report) which also include backlog cases brought forward. Some of these cases are time- consuming as they may be criminal in nature and the police are inevitably involved. Some cases involved the Anti-Corruption Agency and very often the PSC will have to consult the Attorney-General Chambers for legal backup or for concurrent purposes.”

Scholarships

“Another area of responsibility of the PSC is the offer of scholarships to qualified and deserving students. We termed our financial assistance as “Biasiswa Pinjaman Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak.” This consists of 75% scholarship and 25% interest-free loan for students to pursue higher studies at Diploma and Degree levels. Annually, the PSC grants scholarships to about 400 new students pursuing studies in local Institutions of Higher Learning. The quantum varies slightly depending on which state of the country they are studying. The PSC has a yearly allocation of RM4.5 million revolving fund to cater for 1st, 2nd, and final year students locally. Students who are granted these scholarships have to do well. They are required to submit their results every semester and their CGPA must be 2 and above.”

When do the students start to pay back the 25% loan, which make up their scholarship?

“Payback time is after the completion of their course and when they successfully get employed. The first repayment will be 12 months after getting their job. They are then given an instalment period of 4 years to clear the money they owed the state government. For the first three years they are required to pay 5% of what they owed and the remaining 10% will be cleared in the final year - 4 years after completing the course. We monitor their status, whether they are employed full time or part time. Sarawakians are responsible people and so far we have no problem in getting back the money owed.”

Board members of State Public Service Commission