Pledge to appoint woman DO, ADO
Published on: Sunday, September 07, 2014
Sandakan: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman gave the assurance that the State Government would consider appointing a qualified woman civil servant to be a District Officer or Assistant District Officer."No problem, the request for a woman District Officer or Assistant District Officer will be duly considered."After all, we already have a woman minister, women assistant ministers, assemblywomen, women political secretaries, women permanent secretaries and women directors of departments.
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"Hence, I feel the Government will have no qualms about appointing a woman as a District Officer," he told reporters after officiating at the State-level Women's Day celebration, Saturday.Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, added that the State Government was always concerned for women's well-being as reflected in its women-friendly policies.He was responding to Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid who, earlier in her speech, lamented that women's involvement in the public service sector is very low.According to her, Sabah has not had a woman District Officer or Assistant District Officer since 2013.
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"In fact, we have many capable women in the State Civil Service who are eligible to be appointed as District Officer or Assistant District Officer. However, opportunities for such appointment are grossly lacking," she said.The last woman District Officer was Luvita Koisun who served in Kota Marudu after a stint as Matunggong Assistant District Officer. She was transferred to the State Public Service Department (JPA) last year.
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Sabah's first woman District Officer is Katherine Chai whose appointment was announced by then State Secretary Tan Sri Simon Sipaun in 1990. Subsequently, Jane Tan was appointed Assistant District Officer for Lahad Datu prior to her promotion to be Kota Marudu District Officer. She has since retired.Earlier, in his address, Musa paid tribute to women in Sabah, saying, "You are a good wife, mother and daughter. That's what you are."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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