Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun
SIBU: A total of 570 Sarawakians applied for the grade U29 (diploma scale) nursing posts through Public Services Commission’s (SPA) last year, with 569 appointed, representing a near 100 per cent intake.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun, who disclosed this yesterday, said there were 331 applications from Sarawak for the grade U41 (degree scale) nursing post with 16 appointed.
“In 2013, there were 4,891 applications from the state for grade U29 nursing posts, of which 732 were appointed.
“As for grade U41, there were five applications and all five appointed,” Entulu, who is Selangau MP, told The Borneo Post.
Last Sunday, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) president Dr Dusit Jaul claimed that thousands of trained nurses with diploma and degree qualifications in the state were without proper jobs for years after graduation.
Some of the graduates had told thesundaypost they had applied for posts at private and government hospitals through the Public Services Commission on numerous occasions, but to no avail.
Entulu clarified: “The appointment criteria for grade U29 requires candidates to possess a Diploma in Nursing from Ministry of Health (MOH) training institutions recognised by the government or equivalent recognised qualifications.
“In addition, they must have already registered with the Malaysian Nursing Board (LJM).
“As for U41, candidates must have a degree with credits in relevant fields recognised by the government from local higher institutions or equivalent recognised qualifications.
“They must have already registered with LJM.”
He added that application for posts in the public sector including nursing post must be made online at SPA’s Portal: www.spa.gov.my using the Job Registration for Public Service (SPA8i) window.
“Each registration expires in five years. Renewal of registration after the expiry date will ensure that the application is still valid in our Data Bank for job selection purposes,” he explained.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Sarawak would request for a special allocation from the federal government to set up a mechanism to sync the number of health graduates in the state with job availability.
Assistant Minister of Public Health, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, reportedly said the state was keen to create a database of job opportunities in the private and public health sectors and keep data of graduates for employment-matching purposes.
Dr Jerip believed it was important for the government to coordinate with private institutions of higher learning to produce graduates accordingly to market demand, pointing out that a high number of trained nurses here were currently working in other fields.