PUTRAJAYA: A whopping two million people have applied to join the civil service this year.

The number of applications, described as unprecedented by Public Service Commission chairman Tan Sri Mahmood Adam, showed that government jobs were attractive.

He said a total of 219,137 were called for interviews and 143,177 turned up.

“Of those, 52,383 were offered jobs and all of them accepted.

“While 34,112 of them were offered permanent employment the remaining 18,271 were appointed as contract staff,” he said here.

Mahmood said job security and perks such as Cola (cost of living allowance), housing allowance and housing loan at a low interest rate were among the attractions.

Civil servants receive RM300, RM250 or RM100 respectively as their Cola, depending on whether they are in a city, town or rural area.

As for the housing allowance, it is RM180 for non-officers who form the bulk of the 1.4 million work force while the quantum for officers starts at RM250.

Mahmood added that to ensure future applicants were well-prepared for job interviews, the commission would conduct seminars to give them an insight into the world of civil service.

“It is a one-day seminar and we plan to organise it throughout the country.

“It is open to Malaysians who are interested in joining the civil service,” he said.