Felicia Tan succeeds Buckland Bangik as Deputy State Secretary

KUCHING (Jan 6): Datu Felicia Tan Ya Hua has officially assumed duties as the new Deputy State Secretary (Administration), succeeding Datu Buckland Bangik, who has retired after 37 years of service in the Sarawak Civil Service.

State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, State Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, State Attorney General Dato Sri Saferi Ali and Deputy State Secretary (Operation) Datu Hii Chang Kee were among those present to witness the handover ceremony at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today, according to the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).

In his address, Mohamad Abu Bakar commended Buckland for his long-standing service and contributions to the state civil service, describing him as a steady and experienced leader whose service has strengthen the state administration.

He said the transition reflects continuity in leadership, adding that Buckland’s experience and institutional knowledge remain valuable in supporting the collective work of the civil service.

Mohamad Abu Bakar also traced Tan’s public service journey, which began as an administrative officer in Sibu in 1993, followed by postings in Sarikei and Sri Aman, before she went on to hold senior leadership roles at divisional and state departmental levels.

Prior to her latest appointment, Tan served as the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development.

Mohamad Abu Bakar said merit, performance and teamwork remain the core principles guiding career advancement in the Sarawak Civil Service, noting that the growing number of women in senior administrative positions reflects an inclusive and equitable system free from gender bias.

“Good performance will always be recognised. If you perform well, there will be opportunities regardless of whether you are a man or a woman,” he said, while urging senior officers to continue working in unity and mutual respect.

In her maiden remarks, Tan described her appointment as a meaningful milestone, particularly for women in Sarawak, and thanked the Sarawak government for the confidence placed in her.

She said her more than two decades of experience at the grassroots level, which included roles as assistant district officer, district officer, divisional resident and director, have shaped her leadership approach, which she now brings to the state level.

Acknowledging the responsibilities of her new role, she called for guidance and cooperation from senior officers, heads of departments and colleagues to ensure the effective implementation of state policies and programmes.

Meanwhile, Buckland expressed appreciation to the Sarawak government and colleagues for their trust and cooperation throughout his career.

He emphasised the importance of teamwork in the civil service, noting that collective effort enables an organisation to progress further and more sustainably.