Zainal Rahim Seman said applications for positions in the public services had been fully digitalised since 2017. “So, there’s no such thing as ‘using a cable’ anymore,” he said.

He said the commission’s online employment registration system (SPA9) received 1.28 million applications last year for permanent positions in the civil service.

Of the total, 20,762 applicants had been appointed to fill the vacancies according to their qualifications, Zainal said during a media session today.

He said 27,163 applicants have been appointed to various posts on a contract basis, including medical officers, dental officers and pharmacy officers.

In March, Zainal was reported to have said that the transition to a fully digital application system was the best and most transparent method to refute allegations that only those with a “cable” or strong connections would be appointed to posts in the public services.