Public Sector Governance: An Assessment of the Level of Understanding among Public Servants of Community Colleges in Pahang

Public sector governance is a fundamental pillar for strengthening integrity, transparency, and accountability in organisational administration. Within the context of Community Colleges in Pahang, a sound understanding of effective governance principles is critical to ensuring the continuity of quality educational service delivery. This study aims to assess public servants' level of governance understanding, examine the demographic factors influencing this understanding, and identify the main challenges in its practice. A quantitative approach using a cross-sectional survey design was employed, with data collected through a validated structured questionnaire involving 230 respondents from a population of 422 public servants across ten Community Colleges in Pahang, representing a 54.5% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics as well as one-way ANOVA and independent samples t-test. The findings reveal that the level of governance understanding is high (mean=4.54, SD=0.44), while practice challenges are moderate (mean=2.64, SD=0.94), reflecting an aggregate knowing-doing gap of 1.895 points on a five-point scale, with 48.3% of respondents experiencing a high gap. Inferential analysis found that differences in the gap across position group, length of service, education level, and gender were not statistically significant (p>0.05), indicating that the gap is pervasive and systemic. However, exposure to integrity training showed a significant effect (t(226)=4.55, p<0.001), with the trained group displaying higher gap awareness. These findings underscore the need for continuous and structured governance training programmes, accompanied by genuine structural reforms in the workplace. This study contributes foundational empirical data towards strengthening a culture of integrity-based governance in the nation's TVET education sector.

public sector governance; integrity; knowing-doing gap

1. Amin, S. M., Ahmad Suhaimi, S. S., & Nazuri, N. S. (2023). The present and future of Malaysian technical and vocational education and training (TVET). International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(18), 107–117. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i18/19952 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Ilhaamie Abdul Ghani Azmi. (2008). Amalan pengurusan sumber manusia berteraskan kompetensi dan kualiti perkhidmatan dalam organisasi awam di Malaysia. Jurnal Pengurusan, 27, 59–84. https://doi.org/10.17576/pengurusan-2008-27-04 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia. (2023). Laporan tahunan Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia 2023. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Likert, R. (1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of Psychology, 22(140), 1–55. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Nor Aziah Alias, & Arumugam Raman. (2016). Governance and integrity practices in Malaysian public organisations: A review. International Journal of Accounting, Finance and Business, 1(1), 1–12. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. OECD. (2015). OECD principles of corporate governance 2015. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264236882-en [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. OECD. (2022). Promoting integrity in the public sector: Lessons from anti-corruption agencies. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/1f8a7568-en [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Jabatan Perdana Menteri. (2019). Pelan antirasuah nasional (NACP) 2019–2023. Jabatan Perdana Menteri. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Pfeffer, J., & Sutton, R. I. (2000). The knowing-doing gap: How smart companies turn knowledge into action. Harvard Business School Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Subramaniam, N., & Abdul Aziz, F. (2023). Governance of TVET in Malaysia: Gaps and opportunities for researchers. TVET@Asia, 20, 1–18. https://tvet-online.asia/20/governance-of-tvet-in-malaysia-gaps-and-opportunities-for-researchers/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Suruhanjaya Integriti Agensi Penguatkuasaan. (2020). Laporan tahunan EAIC 2020. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia. (2022). Laporan tahunan SPRM 2022. https://www.sprm.gov.my [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia. (2024). Strategi pembanterasan rasuah nasional (NACS) 2024–2028. Jabatan Perdana Menteri. https://www.sprm.gov.my/admin/uploads_publication/strategi-pembanterasan-rasuah-nasional-2024-2028--en-08052024.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Transparency International. (2024). Corruption Perceptions Index 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2023 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Wook, I., Haron, H., Rosli Shaari, R. S., Abd Ghani, Z., Mohad, A. H., & Md Yusof, A. F. (2022). Ethics and integrity in a public sector organisation in Malaysia: An assessment of understanding and perception of the employees. Journal of Governance and Integrity, 5(3), 382–392. https://doi.org/10.15282/jgi.5.3.2022.7442 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. World Bank. (1992). Governance and development. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• A Decadal Overview of Welfare Schemes in Telangana (2014–2024)
• Ubuntu and the Missed Development Goals in the Global South: Rethinking MDGs and SDGs through an African Philosophical Lens
• Exploring the Factors of Obesity: Insights from Johor State Civil Servants
• Navigating the Nexus: Challenges Faced by Part-Time Postgraduate Government Employees in Malaysia
• The Lived Experiences of Skilled Filipino Women Immigrants in Denmark