Administrative and Diplomatic Officer


In Malaysia, the Administrative and Diplomatic officers are civil servants from the Management and Professional groups who hold a university degree and receive training at the National Institute of Public Administration. The PTD's usually become frontline workers in Malaysia, such as district officers, embassy officers, ambassadors and so on. They are tasked with formulating and implementing national policies across various ministries and agencies in Malaysia. Graduates who hold at least a bachelor's degree, must obtain a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management from INTAN before becoming an officer.

Duties and responsibilities

The duties of an Administrative and Diplomatic officer as referred to in the Public Services Commission of Malaysia website are: "Planning, formulating and implementing public policies on human and organizational resource management, financial resources, economy, regional/district/local/land administration and development, social planning and administration, international relations and foreign affairs, national security/resilience and information technology management."
fields of specialization for the PTD's including: Human Resources Management; Finance Management; Government and Services Management; International Relations and Foreign Affairs; Science, Technology and Environment; Housing, Urbanization, Local Government and Land Administration; Social and Community Development; Security and Defence; and Economy.

Requirements

Appointment requirements to become an Administrative and Diplomatic officer:
For those who want to hold this position, they must apply to the SPA and then must appear for the online examination for Administrative and Diplomatic officers.

Examinations and tests

Starting in 2014, the SPA has introduced an online examination system for candidates for Administrative and Diplomatic officers. With the introduction of this online examination system, more candidates have the opportunity to sit for the examination to fill this position.
Consistent with the introduction of this system, the new question section breakdown has also been composed as follows:
  1. Section A: General Knowledge
  2. Section B: Problem Solving Ability
  3. Section C: Psychometric Test
Candidates are allocated a certain time to answer all sections. The break time between each section is 15 minutes.
On Session 16 May 2019, the SPA has changed the Online Examination Format for Section C from the Psychometric Test to the English Comprehension Test.

Controversies and issues

Allegations of conflict management styles

Studies on the PTD's conflict-handling behaviors indicate a tendency towards dominance in interpersonal conflicts. The study finds that they predominantly use a dominance style—asserting authority to resolve conflicts without seeking consensus. While effective for quick decision-making, this approach can lead to strained relationships and reduced collaboration. This approach may impact collaborative efforts and the overall work environment within the civil service in Malaysia.

Diplomatic and administrative oversight

An audit have revealed administrative oversights in the PTD-managed diplomatic missions. For instance, the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi was found to have unpaid fees and staffing issues, raising concerns about the efficiency and accountability of the PTDs in managing diplomatic affairs. They revealed that premium and rental fees totaling INR 216,240.00 and INR 5,406.00 per year respectively, remain unpaid to the Indian government.

Allegations of operational disconnect

In January 2025, former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin criticized the PTDs for being detached from the practical realities of hospital operations, suggesting they were overly reliant on data analysis without understanding on-the-ground challenges. The Administrative and Diplomatic Officers Alumni Association swiftly rebutted these claims, asserting that the PTDs collaborate closely with professionals in the health sector to develop balanced and sustainable policies.

Notable officers