THE Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government has deployed 23 Contribution-Based Position (CBP) technical personnel to support local authorities across Sarawak in addressing manpower shortages involving critical technical functions.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the officers comprised civil engineers, quantity surveyors, assistant engineers and draughtsmen tasked with supporting technical design, drawing preparation, project management, project monitoring and other technical matters.
“The approach could be further expanded as part of efforts to strengthen local authorities’ operational capacity,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech in response to issues raised by Bukit Semuja and Stakan assemblymen during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (May 19).
He added that the ministry, together with the Human Resource Development and Management Unit under the Premier’s Department, was currently reviewing manpower requirements for local authorities through an ongoing organisational restructuring exercise.
“Meanwhile, the recruitment process is continuous and ongoing. Intakes involving 149 vacancies, including 23 technical posts across various local authorities under my ministry, are actively underway,” he said.
Apart from recruitment, Dr Sim said the ministry and local authorities under its purview would also explore automation, outsourcing of suitable tasks and collaboration with technical agencies such as the Public Works Department (PWD) Sarawak to source additional manpower and expertise where necessary.
