Promotion Exercise

The recent promotion exercise by the Public Service Department (PSD) has taught me one important thing. Read further for the details...

Several officers who worked hard and dedicated serving the organisation were left out from the promotion exercise. One of the main reasons was due to the so called performance evaluation marks were below certain benchmark level used by the central agency PSD. Instead of giving promotion to the existing long serving officers, outsiders who had just joined the organisation were rewarded. The reason being was that the outsiders scored higher appraisal evaluation marks. 

However, PSD failed to recognise the fact that appraisal evaluation by immediate supervisor was very subjective and depended upon the level of generosity of the evaluator and how he perceives the excellenct working criteria and performance result. This is the result of the organisational's performance culture and working environment. Different organisations may have different way and benchmarks how it evaluate their people's performance. For example, the 90% marks and above could be given to those who excel in work performance. But, for some organisations, the excellence criterion is defined within the range of 85% to 90%. The score above 90% would only be give to a handful employees who had shown exemplary and outstanding achievements.

Therefore, if the PSD were to maintain this outdated promotion system, I have learned one thing. If you cannot change the system, then live it with the system and find ways how to exploit the system to your advantage.

What did I learn? When you feel your promotion is coming, be sure to keep reminding your boss of a fair appraisal evaluation. I would not hesitate to request from my supervisor for higher marks if I fully satisfied with my performance. I will clearly say to my supervisor that his fair contribution will have an impact on my soon to be higher grade promotion. I believe, by telling the truth (about our feeling) will result in a win-win situation. My supervisor and effectively the organisation will benefit from positive performance of highly motivated of mine. And of course, I will get higher appraisal marks from the supervisor and hopefully be considered for promotion by the PSD. I give work commitment, my supervisor gives me a high evaluation score. So, fair what???

Why PTD Dominates Top Posts in Malaysian Civil Service?

Have you ever given a thought that all KSNs, KSUs and majority of Director Generals of government agencies posts are occupied by a group of PTDs?

I am one hundred and twenty percent confident that many of us are aware or were told that the Secretary of the Government (KSN), Secretary Generals, Director Generals, Directors and the State Secretaries posts are mostly the PTDs officers. They hold majority of top posts, the number one decision maker at the Ministries, Government Departments and agencies.

Some of them, even after retiring from the service are appointed as the Chairman as well as the Directors of Government Linked Companies (GLCs). They are enjoying the priviledges right from the first day of appointment as PTD until their post service. May be until the last day of their life!

Are those top posts specially reserved for PTD? 

The simple answer is NO..NO..NO!!!

But, why do PTDs dominate the majority of importants appointments? The answers are....

Do come again for misterious reasons!!! Sooonnnn.....

Updated on 27 June 2013

There are several key reasons why PTDs dominate majority of top positions in the government. 

PTD are trained to be a leader

The career roadmap for PTD officers is designed on a long term basis. The Public Service Department or JPA (Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam is responsible to chart career direction for PTD right from the first day of joining the service until retirement. We are living in multimensions, working and training. Apart from day to day to accomplish works related tasks, we are also required to attend courses, workshops, seminars, conventions, talks, forums and meetings. I would say, a PTD will not be sitting in the office throughout 30 days in a month without going out at least once a month. We are exposed to various kind of trainings from office administration, coaching, motivation, negotiation to leadership course.

The objective of attending the training is to equip a PTD with knowledge and experience so that he or she will become a capable leader in leading an organisation.

Variety of exposures

As I mentioned earlier, PTDs attended multi-disciplines training course. Unlike the other closed-service schemes which mostly focused on their respective profession. For example, accountant officers have also got the opportunity to attend a training but their training module could be on finance and figures related and more concentrated.

A PTD must has the ability to command and possess theoritical knowledge and practical experiences in all aspects of managing people and the organisation. In order to master and enriching working experience, PTDs work in many departments within an organisation before being promoted to a higher post. The job rotation is regularly implemented. A PTD may have to work in two and more departments, doing different works within a span of five years period such as human resourse, project management and public policy.

Besides the variety of job specifications, a PTD is also posted to different locations either in the big cities or rural areas. He or she could also be sent to overseas for international organisation or placed at Malaysian representative offices in foreign countries.

PTD has no idea where to settle down

Probably, one of the question which a PTD will not be able to answer is "where would they plan to retire?". 

To be cont'....

EXCLUSIVE:  Most of the readers will not miss to read the article below. A very insightful words written by a PTD on How to become a PTD, How a PTD thinks, speaks, teamwork, leads and handling the pressures. A must read if you are interested in becoming a respectable PTD!

PTD aspirants WAJIB/MUST read this PTD The Premier Service and Glamour Civil Servant