FEDERAL, STATE CIVIL SERVANTS IN SABAH URGED TO STRENGTHEN SYNERGY FOR SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- Federal and state civil servants in Sabah must collaborate effectively to ensure the successful use of development funds allocated to the state in the 2025 Budget.

Director-general of Public Service Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz, said this cooperation is vital for addressing long-standing infrastructure issues and benefiting the people of Sabah, as ongoing complaints about public facilities and infrastructure in Sabah may continue unless strong synergy is established to resolve these issues.

“Effective collaboration is crucial to ensure that government funding genuinely benefits the people of Sabah. Look at Sarawak - they’ve made significant progress in development. Sabah has the same potential and should not be left behind. 

“We need closer coordination between federal and state agencies to ensure projects are completed on schedule.

“The people of Sabah want to see the Pan Borneo Sabah Highway progressing at the same pace as in Sarawak and there is still time to make sure these projects succeed,” he told reporters at the Bitara INTAN – Bicara H.E.M.A.T programme held here today.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said under the 2025 Budget, Sabah has been allocated RM6.7 billion for basic infrastructure like roads, electricity and clean water. Additionally, 17 road construction projects under Phase 1B of the Pan Borneo Sabah project, valued at RM9.7 billion, are already in progress, covering routes such as Kota Belud–Kudat, Tawau to Kampung Lot M and Telupid to Ranau.

Further funding has also been allocated to upgrade outdated school infrastructure in Sabah.

He called on public servants to undergo a paradigm shift in service delivery, in line with government improvements, including salary adjustments under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA).

“The government has fulfilled its promise with the new SSPA, which also supports career progression and talent development for public servants. A shift in mindset is essential to improve service delivery.

“We must ensure our services reflect the benefits provided by the government. That’s my hope. I also encourage all federal civil servants in Sabah to adopt the SSPA,” he added.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan explained that the SSPA offers significant benefits, not just in salary, but also in career advancement and skill development. He urged all federal civil servants in Sabah to choose the SSPA before the deadline on Nov 30.

Earlier, he said the five H.E.M.A.T. values, introduced last February: “Governance Transformation,” “Public Empathy,” “Innovative Mindset,” “Appreciation for Innovation,” and “Administrative Transparency,” aim to build a progressive, inclusive and competitive public service.

He added that these values were also designed to enhance service delivery, help public servants tackle current challenges and embrace emerging technologies as they move towards achieving the nation’s aspirations and planned agenda.

At the event, Wan Ahmad Dahlan also launched the H.E.M.A.T. Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), which includes training materials on applying H.E.M.A.T. values. 

The course is available on the official Public Sector e-Learning website, offering more flexible and digitally accessible learning methods for civil servants.

-- BERNAMA