Appointment of civil servants in Sarawak is based on merit - Awang Tengah

He said the qualification, capability and competence of applicants would be prioritised regardless of quota, race or background.

"Apart from that, the governance of the Sarawak Public Service in terms of selection, development and promotion is implemented well and in an orderly manner.

"However, the government will continue with efforts to improve the Sarawak Public Service in line with current developments and needs," he said in his winding-up address on the 2023 state budget at the State Assembly sitting today.

Currently, he said, the Sarawak Civil Service is made up of officers from all races and ethnicities, including the minorities such as Kajang, Mierek, Saban and Tagal.

He said the Sarawak Public Service Commission, established under Article 36 of the Sarawak Constitution, is an independent commission to manage and monitor the recruitment, promotion and discipline of state civil servants.

Last Nov 24, Dudong Assemblyman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing was reported to have said that the recruitment of the state civil servants must be free of racial elements to ensure the job seekers are treated fairly.

Meanwhile, Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development, said that the new surveying initiative of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land was implemented since 2010 to ensure a more efficient and effective survey of the land.

"As of Oct 31 this year, 1,060,811 hectares or 2,621,264 acres of land has been surveyed, of which 813,587 hectares or 2,010,373 acres has been gazetted as Bumiputera Communal Reserve (Agriculture).

"Apart from that, a total of 58,606 individual lots have also been surveyed during the same period, involving 74,181 hectares or 183,301 acres," he added.