IN response to the letter by P. Paranthaman of Shah Alam (”Federal appointees in state civil service” — NST, Nov 26), the Public Service Department would like to point out that in the states of Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak, which have their own state civil services, top posts — such as the state secretaries, state financial officers, directors of state economic planning unit, directors of land and mines, district offices, and presidents of local authorities — are held by officers of the respective state civil service.

In the states of Perak, Selangor, Penang, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Pahang and Perlis, which do not have state civil services, the top posts are held by federal officers. However, these appointments are only undertaken after consultation between the federal government and the relevant state government.

For federalised services such as education, health, legal, public works, drainage and irrigation, veterinary, police and the armed forces, positions at state level are held by federal officers.

MOHAMED MUSADDIK A. MAJID for director-general of Public Service Department, Putrajaya

Source: NST – November 30, 2008