Uggah: Vacancies to be filled in stages

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Dato-Amar-Douglas-Uggah-EmbTHE filling of vacancies in divisions, districts and sub-districts due to the recent delineation of administrative centre by the state government will be done in phases.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas told Dennis Ngau (BN-Telang Usan), Ali Biju (PKR-Krian) and Mohd Chee Kadir (BN-Kabong) yesterday that the aim of the delineation exercise was to expedite rural development and to reduce socio-economic gaps between urban and rural areas.

The exercise resulted in elevating Serian to a Division; the creation of Bukit Mabong and Telang Usan Districts; elevating of Tebedu, Pusa, Kabong, Tanjung Manis, Sebauh, Subis and Beluru sub-districts to Districts; and the creating of four new sub-districts: Mulu, Long Bedian, Lapok and Bario.

Uggah said the filling of posts was being done in phases, based on the development progress of the districts.

“The first phase was completed in the first quarter of this year. The second phase is currently in progress, while the final phase is expected to be completed by 2017.”

In the case of Kabong District, he said five additional posts were approved on top of the existing 13 posts. Two of the posts had been filled, and the remaining three would be filled in phases.

In the case of Igan District Office, the Resident Office would re-examine the roles and duties of the officers to ensure services needed by the people were taken care of.

As for the upgrading of Department of Agriculture officers from G17 to G27, Uggah said 400 officers had been approved for upgrading.

“The balance of 115 is awaiting Public Service Department approvals as they (applicants) have not fulfilled the necessary requirements for the upgraded posts.

“The state government has adopted the circular on this change of scheme, and the officers involved will not lose their seniority or their salary as their appointment will be backdated accordingly.”

On a matter raised by Miro Simuh (Serembu), Uggah said the government was in the process of taking over the federal welfare officers from the federal government. Once the Welfare Department becomes a state department, issue of staffing would be addressed.

On the criteria for the appointment of a ‘ketua kaum’ for a longhouse or a village, he said the current policy was based on the number of doors, which has to be 20 doors and above.

“For longhouses or villages with more than 20 doors, the government will consider the applications from time to time.”

“However, the government will not recognise the creation of ketua kaum post for longhouses or villages due to disputes or ‘pecah rumah’.”