SANDAKAN, March 15 (Bernama) -- Ninety support staff of the Sabah Royal Customs with more than 15 years service have been promoted to a higher grade, its director, Datuk Md Yusop Mansor said.

He said their promotion was in line with the government's announcement last year on the promotion of civil servants in the support group who had served more than 15 years.

The Customs employees who were promoted were those holding various posts in Grade W17 and a few officers in Grade W41, who had been promoted to grade W22 and W44 respectively, he told reporters at the Customs assembly today.

He said the promotion exercise was carried out in appreciation of their contributions and also to motivate them to be more creative in discharging their duties.

At the function, Md Yusop also handed over two four-wheel-drive vehicles to the Sandakan Custom and another, to the Tawau Customs.