pejabat

Pejabat is a term in Malay and Indonesian that designates a government official or officer, and can also refer to the office where public affairs are conducted. As a person, a pejabat is someone who holds a public office or works within a public-sector organization, carrying authority, responsibility for policy implementation, administration, or service delivery. The term is widely used in Indonesia and Malaysia, though its exact scope varies by country and context.

In Indonesia, pejabat commonly denotes civil servants and political appointees within ministries, provinces, and local governments. Their appointments and duties are governed by civil service laws and administrative regulations, and their roles range from policy advisers to frontline public service providers. The word can appear in job titles and in official discourse to indicate the bearer’s official capacity.

In Malaysia and other Malay-speaking contexts, pejabat shares a similar meaning for the official or officer, and it also means a physical office. Examples include “pejabat kerajaan” for government offices and “pejabat pos” for the post office.

Etymology: The term is of Malay origin, formed with the agency prefix “pe-” attached to a root concept related to holding or performing a function, and is used in both Indonesia and Malaysia to describe officialdom and administrative premises.