Kuala lumpur: A study to improve the administrative assistant service scheme is focusing on strengthening career advancement opportunities for one of the largest groups in the public service. Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said the study aims to enhance the career structure so that advancement opportunities for administrative assistants are clearer, more organised, and effective.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the improvements being studied are not intended to grant automatic grade increases to all incumbents but rather to reinforce career paths within the administrative assistant scheme. Wan Ahmad Dahlan emphasized that this approach is crucial to ensure fair and well-organised career advancement opportunities, which are aligned with the needs of the public service and maintain overall balance in the service structure.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan further explained that the comprehensive study involves more than 126,000 civil servants, with expected implementation of improvements starting January 2027. He noted the significant involvement of 106,722 clerical assistant positions and 20,106 financial assistant positions, highlighting the wide-ranging implications any changes could have on the public service structure.
The government is adopting a holistic and balanced approach, considering proposals from the Amalgamated Union of Employees in Government Clerical and Allied Services (AUEGCAS) to upgrade the scheme's qualification requirements to STPM or diploma-level. Wan Ahmad Dahlan stated that various factors, such as the principle of 'rate for the job', existing organisational structure, potential claims from other service schemes, and financial implications, must be thoroughly evaluated before any changes are made.
Wan Ahmad Dahlan stressed the importance of the period leading up to implementation, as it is critical for the Public Service Department to conduct a thorough study reviewing service structure, career pathways, eligibility criteria, and financial implications to ensure a smooth and effective rollout. This approach aims to ensure improvements benefit public servants while maintaining balance in the public service system.
He concluded by stating that this study is part of the government's ongoing effort to ensure the public service remains relevant, balanced, and capable of meeting future needs, in line with its goal to strengthen service delivery to the people. On March 9, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim directed the department to provide promotion pathways for Grade 1 civil servants, covering administrative, clerical, and financial assistants.