KUCHING: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi wants the Sarawak civil service recruitment system to be based on meritocracy and racial balance.
In a Facebook post, Nanta said following his suggesting that the state civil service recruit more Dayak and Chinese, he had received much response and clarification on the matter.
“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 the merit system,” he said.
Nanta, who is Works Minister acknowledged Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s recent announcement that he wants to make the state civil service a top notch entity to ensure the best development and service for Sarawak.
“The Premier declared the state civil service is to hire the best and that they are to be duly rewarded with higher emoluments.
“This is indeed a good move, but more than just that, the basic principles of ‘on merits’; productivity; be able to ‘hire and fire’; integrity and inclusivity, must also be an integral part of the scheme for revamping the state civil service.”
As Sarawak has recognised the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), Nanta said the next step is to ensure fairness in opportunities.
“After all, much has been said about inclusivity, so let’s just do it fairly,” he said.
Nanta said it is not his intention to seek personal glory or mere popularity in bringing up this issue.
“Believe me or not, widespread discontentment has 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 also expressed his gratitude to Abang Johari for showing a sincere interest and effort to achieve a more racially balanced state civil service.
Nanta also called those who are of the same view on the matter to continue to appeal to the leaders of the state 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,” he said.
