A recent chat with my public service and private sector fresh chem eng grad is that public service will have a better starting pay to attract you in. However, annual increment is going to be much slower compared to MNC.

It is no doubt MNC will have less work/life balance. I strongly recommend you take the MNC ROUTE since we are still young. Take a higher degree and transit to public service if you are feeling burned out after 4 to 5 years.

My 2 cents worth