KUCHING: Government procedures, circulars and working practices must be reviewed regularly to ensure the Sarawak Civil Service (SCS) remains relevant and responsive to present-day needs.
Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said approaches introduced in the past might no longer be suitable as technology, government priorities and public expectations continued to evolve.
According to him, the 3R approach ‘Revisit, Rethink and Recharge’ provided a practical framework for reviewing existing practices, improving work processes and strengthening organisational efficiency.
He said civil servants should consistently reassess how they worked, rethink outdated approaches and recharge their capabilities to deliver better services to the people.
“The Civil Service must remain relevant. We must learn about artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology, but the most important element is integrity,” he said when delivering his address at the Presentation of Appointment Offer Letters Ceremony at a leading hotel here on Thursday.
Also present was Director of the Human Resource Development and Management Unit (HRDM) Datu Sharifah Rohana Datu Wan Alwi.
Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar further explained that technology, including AI, was changing how the government planned, made decisions and delivered services.
Officers must therefore be prepared to use technology to improve productivity and accelerate the implementation of their duties, he said.
However, the Sarawak Secretary emphasised that technology could never replace human judgment, integrity and accountability.
He described integrity as a fundamental source of strength for the public service and said it must guide officers in carrying out every responsibility entrusted to them.
Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar also encouraged a culture of continuous learning within the SCS, noting that officers do not need to travel far or wait for formal courses to expand their knowledge.
While relevant training would continue to be provided by the Leadership Institute of the Sarawak Civil Service, he said officers must also take personal responsibility for strengthening their knowledge and capabilities.
He added that civil servants could no longer rely solely on knowledge acquired during their university years, as subjects and working methods learned in the past might not fully address current challenges. -UKASnews
