PETALING JAYA, Nov 27 — Impressed by the working conditions in Selangor, many civil servants currently serving the Barisan Nasional-led (BN) federal administration have been applying for positions in the state civil service, Mentri Besar Azmin Ali claimed today.

The first-term state chief said his method of listening to the needs of those serving his administration has helped the state outperform set targets for 2015.

“Today, the Selangor state government receives many applications from the civil servants of Putrajaya wanting to move to Selangor and serve here,” he said in his speech when launching the PKR Youth and Wanita national congress 2015 here at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) hall today.

“But as I have said before, there is no need to move to Selangor, let us be the ones to move to Putrajaya.”

He added that Selangor civil servants are set to receive a one and a half month’s bonus this year compared to Putrajaya’s civil servants whom he said will only be receiving RM500 as a special allowance.

When asked later by reporters to verify his claim that Putrajaya’s civil servants have been applying for jobs in Selangor, Azmin said he does not have specific figures but many have personally sent him text messages expressing support for his approach of recognising the roles that the public service plays in the administration of a state or a country, and actually listening to the views and needs of those who work for his government.

“On the federal level, civil servants are demoralised because on the federal level they depend on foreign consultants for advice,” he told reporters.

“But I have taken the initiative to listen to the views [of the civil servants] and have had meetings on various levels to strengthen our work together which has led to commitment in supporting the policies of the state and to execute the decisions at the state exco level.”

In his speech, he said that Selangor has so far achieved a revenue of RM2.3 billion, surpassing its RM1.97 billion target for the year and has increased state reserves to RM3.6 billion.

“This would not have been possible if we didn’t work together with the civil servants. [Civil servants] see that this is the work ethic of Selangor, and therefore feel it would be better to serve in Selangor because we acknowledge their views and their roles,” he said.