If this is inadequate or unsuitable, then other measures such as recruiting temporary or permanent staff can be considered. - Tan Sri Mahmood Adam

(The Star) - More non-bumiputra will be appointed as frontline counter staff at government offices nationwide to make Malaysians from all ethnic groups feel more at ease when dealing with ministries and departments, the Public Service Commission (PSC) said.

Its chairman Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said some Malaysians seeking service or help at front office counters may have certain problems or issues which officers from their own race could better understand or help them with.

“Apart from helping the public feel comfortable, this is also part of the Government's larger effort to attract more non-bumiputra to join the civil service,” Mahmood told The Star.

Mahmood said he would chair a meeting today to finalise details of the programme.

For a start, the PSC would look at ways to increase the number of Indian counter staff and officers from about 1,000 at present to about 3,000. It would then examine ways to boost the number of Chinese counter staff.

Among the possible measures which would be considered were getting non-bumiputra staff in various departments to take turns manning the front office counters.

“If this is inadequate or unsuitable, then other measures such as recruiting temporary or permanent staff can be considered,” said Mahmood.

It was reported that Malays last year made up 80% of the 1.12 million applicants for posts in the public service sector, Indians 3% and Chinese 2%. The rest were from Sabah and Sarawak.

Mahmood said the PSC had earlier taken steps to increase the numbers of non-bumiputra in the civil service.

They reportedly included putting up advertisements in the Chinese and Tamil newspapers as well as conducting interview sessions at night and on weekends.

Applicants were also given the opportunity to choose up to 15 positions instead of the previous five in their application forms.