KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy secretary-general in the Prime Minister's Department Zainol Othman has been promoted to senior deputy secretary-general, effective yesterday.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan said in a statement that Zainol would take over from Datuk Mohtar Abas whose service contract ended on Monday.

Zainol, 55, who holds a master's degree in Economic Development from William College, Massachusetts, the United States, and a Bachelor's degree (honours) in Economics from Universiti Malaya, joined the civil service as an administrative and diplomatic officer on Nov 1, 1978.

He was attached to the Implementation Coordination Division of the Prime Minister's Department as assistant director.

Zainol, who has experience in project management and development, had served in various capacities, including as head of the Felda Supervision Unit, division secretary of the the Rural and Regional Development Ministry's Planning and Coordination Division, deputy director of the Economics Division, Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) in the Prime Minister's Department and deputy director of the Rural Development Institute Division in the ICU. -- Bernama