More Sabahans Urged to Take Up Senior Federal Civil Service Posts

23 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor has called for more qualified Sabahans to secure high-level positions in the Federal civil service, including postings based in Putrajaya.

He said Sabahans must be more open and prepared to accept placements outside the state, including in Peninsular Malaysia, to ensure more balanced representation within the Federal administration.

“Qualified Sabahans should move past the stigma of being reluctant to serve outside their home state. Many vacancies in the Federal civil service offered by the Public Service Commission (SPA) receive applications from Sabahans.

“When they are offered positions — including senior roles — even if the placement is in the Peninsula, they should accept them. This will enable more Sabahans to serve and contribute meaningfully within Federal departments,” he said.

Hajiji made these remarks during a courtesy call by SPA Malaysia chairman Dato’ Sri Dr Ahmad Jailani Muhamed Yunus at his office in Menara Kinabalu on Thursday.

He noted that greater participation by Sabahans in the Federal civil service would not only open up career advancement opportunities, but also strengthen Sabah’s representation and understanding within the national administrative system.

Meanwhile, Dr Ahmad Jailani said the number of Sabahans applying to join the Federal civil service has shown an encouraging increase compared with previous years.

On average, he said, about 2,000 Sabahans are appointed to the Federal civil service each year, with most serving within the state.

To further facilitate recruitment and interviews, Dr Ahmad Jailani announced that SPA Malaysia will open a new interview centre in Sabah later this year at the Keningau Urban Transformation Centre (UTC).

“At present, SPA interview centres in Sabah are located in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau,” he added.

He also briefed the Chief Minister on SPA’s outreach programmes in Sabah, including its involvement in the MADANI Adoption Village (Kampung Angkat MADANI) initiative, as well as the close and ongoing cooperation between SPA Malaysia and SPA Sabah.