Document public sector expertise, institutional knowledge before it is lost, says public service chief

Public Service Director-General Tan Sri Dr Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said government agencies must document their knowledge and experience to prevent valuable information from being lost when civil servants retire or are transferred. — Bernama pic

First Published: Monday, 02 Nov 2026 2:14 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Government agencies must systematically document their administrative experience and expertise to prevent the loss of institutional knowledge when civil servants retire or are transferred.

Public Service Director-General (KPPA) Tan Sri Dr Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said knowledge gained through administrative work and research should be preserved and translated into policies, decisions and practical measures.

“Documented experience becomes institutional knowledge that builds the collective memory of the public service,” he said in his keynote address at the opening of the 2026 Research Colloquium at the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) here today.

His speech was read by INTAN director Datuk Dr Mohd Zabri Yusoff.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan urged government agencies to document project implementation experiences and administrative challenges through case studies and action research findings.

He also called on department heads and senior management to incorporate research findings into decision-making.

“Every study presented at this colloquium should be assessed for actions that can be taken by the respective organisations. Do not let these studies become mere documents gathering dust on library shelves,” he said.

Wan Ahmad Dahlan also expressed hope that the proposed restructuring of INTAN, particularly efforts to strengthen its Research and Consultancy Centre, would enhance its capacity to conduct applied research addressing current challenges faced by government agencies.

The event also saw the launch of a book titled *Penyelidikan Sektor Awam Malaysia: Pendekatan Kajian Tindakan* (Malaysian Public Sector Research: An Action Research Approach), intended as a reference for civil servants and researchers seeking to promote impact-driven research.

The two-day colloquium, organised by the Public Service Department through INTAN in strategic collaboration with Universiti Utara Malaysia, brings together 800 participants and features 41 research papers across four key clusters: technology and digitalisation, economics, social issues and sustainability, and public policy. — Bernama