Chief secretary to the government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said the changes are in line with the government’s goal of implementing public service reforms which demand speed, agility, and dynamism in public sector leadership.

In a statement, Shamsul said the postings and new appointments were made as Malaysia “enters a new era” of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), under which civil servants will be getting salary increments of between 7% and 15% from December.

The new secretaries-general are Lokman Hakim Ali (defence ministry), Awang Alik Jeman (home), Suriani Ahmad (health), Ruji Ubi (education), Isham Ishak (agriculture and food security), Azman Yusof (human resources), Azman Ibrahim (works), Khairul Dzaimee Daud (entrepreneur development and cooperatives) and Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad (national unity).

Nik Nasarudin Zawawi is the new director-general of the Prime Minister’s Department’s implementation coordination unit, and Razman Abu Samah is the new director-general of the Prime Minister’s Department’s public private partnership unit.

Abd Shukor Mahmood has been appointed deputy secretary-general at the Prime Minister’s Department.

On Monday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said large-scale reforms involving government departments and agencies will be carried out from this month.

He said he would meet Shamsul and director-general of public service Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz to develop a strategy to improve the public sector’s performance.