KOTA KINABALU (Nov 11): Caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor has credited the strong support and unwavering commitment of Sabah’s civil servants for the successful implementation of the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 development blueprint over the past five years of his leadership.
“For the past five years, I have helmed the State Government with the steadfast support and cooperation of both State and Federal civil servants. It has been an extraordinary and deeply meaningful experience for me.
“Previously, I led only a ministry, but over the past five years, I have had the privilege of leading an entire government. It was a very, very interesting experience, one that I will cherish forever,” he said at the Sabah Civil Service Convention held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Tuesday.
Hajiji said that overall, the State and Federal civil service in Sabah had functioned effectively, despite at times facing various challenges, pressures and uncertainties.
“Sabah has experienced political instability, as well as the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic and other external factors such as global economic uncertainties and climate change, which can all impact our performance, roles and daily lives,” he said.
He expressed hope that the solid foundations laid through the Hala Tuju SMJ 1.0 plan would be further strengthened and expanded to achieve greater success under SMJ 2.0, which is set to be implemented soon.
During his five-year tenure as Chief Minister, Hajiji said he had visited all ministries, departments and agencies under the State Government.
“Feedback and complaints that reach me are not always positive. There are assemblymen, community leaders and grassroots representatives who often share reports with me.
“That is why I say, over the past five years, there are things that I am very satisfied with, and there are also matters that have been disappointing. But that is normal. As a leader, we always expect the best from our subordinates,” he said.
Hajiji also welcomed the large-scale convention held in conjunction with World Quality Day, describing it as timely and significant, as it involved both State and Federal civil servants.
He urged civil servants to take proactive steps to enhance human capital and expertise to remain relevant and capable of meeting the sophisticated demands of the 21st century.
“As the machinery of government, civil servants are the backbone of the administration. Guided by integrity and professionalism, your duty is to serve the government of the day and deliver quality service to the people.
“Therefore, a close and harmonious relationship between civil servants and government leaders must continue to be nurtured and strengthened,” he said.
He added that such cooperation is essential to ensure a strong administration and the effective implementation of government policies, which are vital to sustaining progress, prosperity and the wellbeing of the people.
On human capital development, Hajiji said that under the Hala Tuju SMJ framework, he said, the State Government has not only focused on education and skills enhancement but also on strengthening the State Civil Service through the implementation of the State Civil Service Remuneration System (Sistem Saraan Perkhidmatan Awam – SSPA), which will take effect on 1 December 2024.
With an estimated additional expenditure of RM150 million, he also mentioned that the State civil servants will receive phased salary increases of between 7 and 15 per cent from 2024 to 2026, depending on their service category.
According to Hajiji, several special financial incentives have also been approved. This year, State civil servants have received a total of at least RM4,000 in special assistance comprising one month’s salary or a minimum of RM3,000 in January 2025, a RM500 Hari Raya Aidilfitri bonus and a RM500 Kaamatan Festival bonus.
“This marks the highest amount of special assistance ever awarded to civil servants in Sabah, reflecting the State Government’s appreciation for their high level of commitment,” he said.
The government has also introduced the i-Cuti holiday incentive to recognise the service of civil servants with 20 years or more of service as of 2024.
To date, a total of 7,872 implementing group officers, 824 management and professional officers and 61 top management officers are eligible for this incentive, with an estimated total cost of RM17.7 million, he said.
Hajiji added that the state civil service will be further strengthened with the Federal Government’s agreement to consider upgrading 5,537 temporary and contract positions to permanent status in phases.
He also noted that in the National Budget 2026, the Prime Minister had announced a special RM500 payment for Federal civil servants to be disbursed before Hari Raya Aidilfitri early next year.
“God willing, the Sabah State Government will also provide a similar incentive in the 2026 State Budget, perhaps even slightly higher, depending on the government’s financial capacity,” he said.
“Hopefully, the government will receive a fresh mandate from the people, so that we can continue our efforts and ensure the continuity of the ongoing development programmes for the benefit of all Sabahans,” he added.
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