Removal Of Service Confirmation Requirement Makes It Easier For Civil Servants To Perform Haj – PSD DG

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The removal of the confirmation-in-service requirement for civil servants on permanent appointment to qualify for Haj leave will provide more opportunities for Muslim civil servants to fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam, says Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.

He said the move was expected to greatly benefit thousands of civil servants who had registered early to perform the Haj at a young age.

“Previously, the rules stated that only confirmed civil servants were eligible to take leave to perform the Haj.

“Most of them register early (to perform the Haj) and receive an offer three or four years after joining the civil service. This situation would disadvantage those who receive offers, as we know Haj offers take a very long time to come — sometimes requiring a wait of 30 or 40 years,” he said.

He told reporters this after attending the 20th edition of the Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam (MAPPA XX) programme organised by the PSD in collaboration with the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) here today.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced several new initiatives to strengthen the civil service, including the removal of the confirmation-in-service requirement for Haj leave.

Anwar also announced improvements to the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) scheme, the provision of Academic Recognition Awards (HPA) and funding to strengthen INTAN.

On the Public Service Talent Development Policy launched by Anwar, Wan Ahmad Dahlan said it reflected the government’s commitment to developing competent and competitive civil servants through the implementation of comprehensive and structured talent development initiatives.

“From the time one joins the civil service until retirement, we certainly need competent human capital to carry out duties. This is where talent development is taken into account by the PSD to ensure that civil servants are competent in facing the new world, which now includes the digital era, the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and so on.

“Focus will be given to training and career advancement for all schemes. Previously, most of them moved independently according to their own schemes, but now we have a blueprint for talent development that can be applied across all service schemes,” he said.

According to a PSD media statement, the Public Service Talent Development Policy was formulated to ensure the public sector remains relevant, responsive and capable of driving the reform agenda.

-- BERNAMA