The freeze on new posts is part of the measure to control the size of the civil service, said the Public Services Department (PSD) in a statement yesterday.

However, the filling of vacancies due to retirement, resignation, transfer, death, and termination of service can still be carried out as usual.

As at Dec 31, 2014, the number of civil servants stood at 1.61 million, which shows the dynamism of the public sector, to ensure delivery of best services to the people.

The Malaysian civil service covers the entire public service including the military and the police.

The PSD said the rationalisation of the civil service was implemented in 2008, 2010, and 2011.

“The rationalisation centres on productivity and optimum use of human resources,” said the statement.

The freeze of new posts in the civil service would be offset by efforts to increase employment opportunities in the private sector.

As mentioned by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) report on April 28, some 3.3 million jobs would be created by 2020.

“Efforts to rationalise the civil service is the best government measure in facing current realities to ensure continued national development for the people’s well-being,” said the PSD.

- Bernama