Repeated Errors In Public Sector HR Management Must Stop - PSD DG

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- Repeated errors in public sector human resource management must be stopped and addressed comprehensively, said Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Tan Sri Dr Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.

He said errors in the appointment process, as well as in acting appointments, promotions, salary adjustments, disciplinary matters and performance management, should not be allowed to become the norm.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan said one of the most basic measures of a system’s quality was whether the same errors continued to recur.

“If they do, it indicates that the root cause has yet to be addressed. Cases that may appear minor in the process can have a significant impact on officers as well as the credibility of the organisation.

“Repeated errors are no longer isolated cases; instead, they point to systemic weaknesses,” he said when opening the Public Sector Human Resource Management Conference here today.

He said Malaysia’s improved performance in the 2026 World Competitiveness Ranking set a new benchmark for public expectations of the civil service.

“Therefore, human resource managers have a critical role to play in supporting the Reform Success Pillars, particularly in organisational development, human capital and service delivery.

“Successful reform is not determined by the sophistication of systems alone, but also depends on the quality of the people implementing them,” he said.

He said both reform and transformation required civil servants to have the courage to discard outdated practices and embrace relevant new ones in pursuit of high-impact restructuring.

“Transformation is a continuous process, while reform entails radical change. It will only become a reality when we have the courage to make the right decisions more quickly and address problems at their root.

“Therefore, driving performance means improving the quality of work, while realising reform means ensuring that the changes deliver a tangible impact.

“This major shift must be fully reflected in dynamic human resource management,” he said.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan told a press conference later that issues related to human resource management had far-reaching implications at the federal and state levels, as well as for local authorities (PBT).

“So, we want to safeguard civil servants and ensure that they do not suffer any losses as a result of human resource management errors,” he said.

He also launched the book “Institusi Ketua Pengarah Perkhidmatan Awam Alaf Baharu”, which documents the development, role and contributions of the Institution of the Director-General of Public Service.

It covers the director-general’s strategies, reforms and initiatives from 2000 to 2025 in shaping Malaysia’s civil service for the new millennium.

Themed ‘Driving Performance, Realising Reform’, the conference was attended by more than 1,000 key human resource practitioners from ministries, departments, agencies, State Secretary offices, statutory bodies and local authorities.

-- BERNAMA