More non-bumiputeras are being taken into the ranks of the government administration, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator T Murugiah.

"People always accuse the government of hiring just one race for its workforce but that is not true," he said,dismissing the public perception that the civil service is being run by just one race.

The senator stressed that the percentage of non-bumiputeras being hired by the Public Service Commission had risen compared to the past few years.

NONE Speaking to reporters at the

Parliament lobby yesterday, Murugiah ( right ) said 58.2 percent of the total 1,559 Chinese applicants who were interviewed for government positions were employed by the commission as of June 15.

According to the statistics given by Murugiah, the percentage of Chinese accepted by the civil service has increased by 9 percent compared to 2008, as during that period only 49.2 percent of Chinese applicants were chosen out of 4,648 candidates.

"If there are applicants from one race that form the largest group, we would take into consideration their qualifications and the way they present themselves during their interviews," he said.

He added that many who apply did not possess the necessary qualifications and were sieved out during the screening process," he added.

Murugiah disclosed that out of the 1,833 Indians interviewed, 42.7 percent or 783 applicants were successful.

In contrast, the acceptance rate for 2008 was only 38.8 percent out of 6,106 Indian interviewed.

"The applicants are short-listed by a computer which filters them out according to their qualifications. Therefore, there is no bias or preference towards any race," he said

He reiterated that the other races are also given opportunities for top management positions, saying that there was no quota system in place.