Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today met with the new chief secretary to the government, Mohd Zuki Ali, and his predecessor Ismail Bakar.
In the meeting held at the Perdana Leadership Foundation office here, Mahathir handed over the letter of appointment to Zuki.
Ismail also handed over his duties to Zuki at the same event.
Later, Zuki told reporters that the prime minister expressed hope that civil servants would continue to be respected.
For this to happen, he said, civil servants have to respect the regulations, procedures and stakeholders in their departments and agencies.
“My hope is that civil servants will continue to be prepared to face any situation, and what is most important is that they abide by the civil service oath and the Rukun Negara,” he said.
Zuki, 58, also expressed his gratitude to the prime minister and the government for the trust given to him and said he would carry out his duties to the best of his abilities.
His appointment is effective Jan 1, 2020.
He holds a Master’s degree in business management from Nanyang University, Singapore, and served in the civil service for 28 years.
Zuki was previously the secretary-general at the defence ministry.
He had also served in the finance, education, rural and regional development, home, and natural resources and environment ministries.
He was previously attached to Istana Negara and the prime minister’s department and was the Sarawak federal secretary.