KUCHING: Recruitment of civil servants must also take meritocracy into consideration, said Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Of late there have been calls to establish a quota system based on ethnicity for the recruitment of civil servants.
But Dr Sim stressed that there has to be a balance of both – fair representation of all Sarawakians in the civil service and recruitment based on merits.
“What we want to emphasise here is that the recruitment of civil servants is not just based on having to fulfil certain quota but needs to be based on the individuals’ capabilities.
“So, we want both, not just one,” he told reporters when asked to comment on the matter after attending the Sarawak HEAR Health Carnival at Farley Kuching here on Sunday (Mar 5).
Earlier last month, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi in welcoming the suggestion by the Premier to improve the salary scheme for Sarawak’s civil servants, suggested to the Sarawak government to establish a quota system based on ethnic groups for the recruitment of civil servants.
According to the Kapit MP, often only a small number of non-Malays were recruited into the civil service.
Dr Sim, who is also the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) president then mentioned he had raised this matter since 2018 where Sarawak should be represented not only in the State Civil Service (SSC) but in all sectors as Sarawakians are also part in the state and nation building.
“But for Sarawak, it is evolving. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has made many changes.
“That is why we have Datuk Hii Chang Kee appointed as the Deputy State Secretary and Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations president Datuk Richard Wee appointed as Yayasan Sarawak board member.
“All this are the being actively done by our Premier,” he said.
