Mosti restructuring creates new vacancies

The Star

By V.P. SUJATA

PUTRAJAYA: The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) has undergone a restructuring process creating additional posts for experts and professionals who are not in the civil service.

An additional 177 posts are available to be filled by this year, of which 72 are open to outsiders.

Of the number, four are for senior management posts, 68 for management and professional posts while the remaining is for additional support staff.

Minister Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis said the new structure, planned by the National Innovation Council, was approved by the Cabinet in December last year.

It is part of the plan to progress in the "new economy" aimed at making Malaysia a country that conducts its own research and development, manufacture and, later, market its own brand name overseas.

Jamaluddin said the available new posts promise private sector salaries while working on contract, adding that the experts need not be science-based; they could also have expertise in the field of economy and finance.

"There are also 91 vacancies after the promotion exercise to be filled either by capable ministry staff or by professionals from outside," he said, adding that the Public Service Department had approved the additional posts.

He was speaking to reporters Thursday after addressing his ministry staff in a monthly gathering that was also attended by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan here.

Acknowledging the fact that outsiders would be employed in Mosti under the restructuring process, Sidek, in his message to Mosti staff earlier, said there was nothing wrong as long as the work was done for the benefit of the country.

"You should be able to accept someone from outside who can perform and deliver. The mantra here is 'must deliver'," he said, adding that if they did not want an outsider, the staff should deliver.

In the progress of science and technology, Sidek said all staff must challenge the status quo instead of being complacent in order to continue performing better.

"This is Mosti where innovation is the key word and there is no end to innovation in this new economy," he said, adding that with added technology now, civil servants could serve the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and not only from 8am to 4pm.