PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants will be assessed using a new Demerit Performance Evaluation (Deep) System fom this year, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
He said the implementation of the Deep system has been agreed upon by the Public Service Department (JPA)
He said the purpose of introducing this new assessment method is to ensure that firstly, to make a fair assessment of the capabilities and dedication of officers being evaluated, based on the responsibilities given.
"So sometimes, in our service level assessment, we tend to generalise our evaluations. We wait until the end, and then we evaluate our performance based on marks.
"What we do in Deep, initially we give 100%, we give a format, and in reverse, if he (or she) does not achieve the KPI or fails to perform the assigned tasks, we will deduct points," he said.
On another matter, Mohd Zuki said the study on the new civil servants retirement scheme is in its final stage and the outcome will be presented to Cabinet in the near future.
He reiterated that the implementation of the new scheme is necessary due to concerns about the government's ability to sustain the fiscal burden associated with the current pension plan.
Projections suggest that the pension liabilities could reach RM120 billion by 2040.
On the hiring policy, he said that the government wishes to maintain the contractual recruitment instead of permanent at least for another year to a year and a half , before the new pension scheme is rolled out.
"If the Civil Service Department (JPA) does not issue any new instruction and the policy is maintained, hiring (new civil workers) as permanent, it will defeat the purpose of what we are studying right now.
"That's why we hire on a contractual basis for a period of one year to one year and a half. Maybe one year because JPA's (study on a new pension scheme) is in its final stage.
The government will review or make a decision eventually as it will be brought up to the Cabinet," he told almost 500 civil servants that attended his first official address this year at Puspanitapuri, here today.
Speaking to the reporters later, Mohd Zuki said the implementation of the new pension scheme will take some time as it has to go through legal provisions in Parliament.
"The government may implement this matter possibly within this year but it depends on the studies being conducted," he added.
Last month, it was reported that the government is introducing a new civil service hiring policy, which will include a new pension scheme.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said under this method, new hires in the civil service will contribute to retirement schemes like the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).
He said the shift comes as part of a broader initiative to phase out traditional pensions.
He said the contribution rate for these schemes would align with the prevailing rates observed among current employees in the private sector.
