(Miri News, 19th) The Director of Sarawak Forest Department, Datu Haji Hamden bin Haji Mohammad, emphasized that the Forest Department regularly provides technical and soft skills training for officers and staff to enhance their professional knowledge and work capabilities. He encouraged all staff to master digital and information communication technology (ICT) skills to improve work efficiency, especially those promoted under the Public Service Salary Structure (SSPA), who need to possess computer or specific technical skills to adapt to more flexible job requirements.
"With the rapid advancement of technology, failing to upgrade our skills in time may affect the quality of the organization's services. As Einstein said, 'Once you stop learning, you start dying.'" He remarked last night during a speech at the appreciation dinner of the Northern Sarawak Zone Forest Department held at Mega Hotel, Miri. The International Day of Forests themed activities are upcoming.
He mentioned that the theme for the 2025 International Day of Forests (IDF) is "Forests and Food," and the Sarawak Forest Department plans to host related activities in May 2025 at its Research and Development Department (RDD), with specific dates to be confirmed by the Sarawak Chief Minister's Office. He urged regional forest officers (RFO) to prepare in advance to ensure the event runs smoothly.
Expansion of the Sarawak Forest Department Team
By the end of 2024, the Forest Department has hired 127 new staff, including 13 management and professional personnel and 114 executive personnel. In January 2025, an additional 20 executive staff will be hired, bringing the total number of personnel in the Sarawak Forest Department to 1,085, with 582 working at headquarters and 503 spread across 8 regional offices in Sarawak.
Additionally, 29 trainees from the FORTRAIN Sarawak Training Program, who completed their training in September 2024, will gradually receive employment contracts and be stationed at various forest department sites. The Forest Department expects to add 189 positions within the next four years, covering the Forest Technical Group (FTG), Research in Forest Nursery (RIFD), Carbon Emission Management Department (PMD Carbon), and Sarawak Delta Geopark, among other strategic departments.
Talent Development and Academic Advancement
Datu Haji Hamden stresses that talent is the most important asset in an organization. The Forest Department encourages officers to continue their education, currently having 21 staff pursuing degrees, including 5 PhDs, 7 Masters, 8 Bachelors, and 1 diploma course.
Quoting a recent speech by the Sarawak Chief Minister, he stated, "Civil servants must possess the latest skills, and we have allocated substantial budgets for training and development." He hopes that the 96.21% training target achievement rate in 2024 will increase to 100% in 2025 and requested all staff to submit personal Training Needs Analysis (TNA) to develop targeted training programs.
Promotion and Good Governance
In 2024, the Forest Department approved the promotion of 47 management and professional personnel and 26 executive personnel. The Director emphasized that staff who perform well, meet standards, and have no disciplinary issues will receive promotion opportunities. He reminded all officers to adhere to work ethics and ensure that the services they provide are professional, reliable, and friendly.
The Forest Department has fully implemented the Quality Management System (MS ISO 9001:2015) and obtained the Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) certification in 2024. At the same time, collaborating with the Sarawak Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) to advance integrity building and ensure transparent and efficient organizational operations.
Ecological Protection and Challenges
Datu Haji Hamden revealed that the Sarawak Forest Department has completed its target of planting 35 million trees ahead of schedule and introduced new technologies to improve productivity, promoting the announcement of Permanent Forest Estates (PFE) while actively conducting community forestry projects and international cooperation. In 2023, the Forest Department performance score reached 92.7%, and so far in 2024, it is 75.3%. Future efforts will focus on improving customer satisfaction and core service quality.
He emphasized that the Forest Department faces challenges such as illegal logging, land development pressure, and global climate change and must actively explore innovative strategies to respond to future changes. "A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for," he encouraged staff to keep progressing and jointly promote Sarawak's forest management to a higher level.
