PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will soon announce the new candidate for the position of Chief Secretary to the government.
"No, (we don't have the candidate yet), we will announce it very soon," Anwar told reporters briefly when met at the Prime Minister's Department monthly assembly, here.
He said this as the current Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali will end his two-year contract this Aug 10.
Anwar also said today's assembly was the last for Zuki who had started his contract on Aug 11, 2022, and ending on Aug 10, will not be renewed.
He also acknowledged that he would lose a key companion and pillar of the civil service with Zuki's retirement.
"I am grateful that since becoming Prime Minister, in addition to having colleagues in the administration, I have also been accompanied by a key pillar of the civil service.
Anwar said from his first day in office as Prime Minister in November 2022, Zuki has consistently provided advice, suggestions, and insights for the betterment of the civil service and the country.
"I appreciate and am indebted to him because, despite his experience serving previous Prime Ministers, he has continued to perform his duties professionally, He never complained.
"I consider myself fortunate because, while we see in the media that there are issues of delays being criticised, there are those who fail to recognise the civil servants who dedicate their entire energy to the nation and people.
"Within the government, it becomes easier when we see that civil servants are truly committed and give their all, both time and energy.
"Those who are close to me know how hard I work, but the Chief Secretary to the Government has never shown any signs of struggling with the pressure and burden I place on him," he said in his speech at the assembly.
Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.
Previously, Zuki held the post since Dec 31, 2019, serving under Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, then continuing with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and later Datuk Seri Ismail Yaakob before serving under Anwar.
Zuki first joined the public service in Dec 1992 as an assistant secretary at the Finance Ministry and has served in various posts at various ministries and agencies.
On Aug 17, 2015, he served as director-general of Legal Affairs Division under the Prime Minister's Department before becoming Sarawak's secretary for federal affairs on Aug 13, 2016 and senior deputy secretary-general at the Prime Minister's Department on Aug 1, 2017.
Prior to ascending to the top of Malaysian civil service, he was transferred to the Defence Ministry to serve as the secretary-general on Apr 18, 2019.