KUCHING – The Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) held its Thanksgiving Ceremony and Monthly Assembly in Kuching on 12 October 2026, bringing together department leaders and staff to reinforce unity, gratitude and commitment to public service.
The event took place on Level 11 of the Majma’ Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Building, where JAIS director Datu Haji Mual bin Haji Suaud delivered a message to staff during the gathering.
Also in attendance were Datin Hafsah Drahman and her children, the department’s deputy director I for Policy and deputy director II for Operations, as well as other JAIS personnel.
Staff based outside the Kuching Division participated remotely through Zoom, allowing personnel across Sarawak to follow the programme and hear the director’s address without travelling to the venue.
The ceremony combined an expression of gratitude to Allah SWT with an opportunity for staff to gather and strengthen professional relationships. It also served as a platform to reinforce a shared sense of responsibility among employees working across the department.
According to the information provided by JAIS, the event was intended to encourage gratitude, strengthen brotherhood and promote a spirit of togetherness among staff. These values were linked to the department’s responsibilities in carrying out its duties and delivering services to the community.
The inclusion of employees from outside Kuching through online participation extended the gathering beyond its physical venue. Using Zoom enabled staff in other divisions to take part in the programme, supporting communication and shared engagement across the department’s geographically dispersed workforce.
Monthly assemblies can provide public-sector organisations with an opportunity to bring employees together, communicate organisational priorities and reinforce expectations surrounding their duties. In this instance, the gathering combined religious reflection with staff engagement, placing emphasis on the relationship between shared values and the responsibilities associated with public service.
For JAIS, the stated focus on gratitude and unity formed part of its broader aim of maintaining staff commitment to the department’s work. The gathering also highlighted the importance of cooperation among personnel operating in different locations and roles, particularly where coordinated efforts are needed to support services for communities throughout Sarawak.
The department’s service responsibilities require staff to carry out their respective duties while maintaining professional standards and responding to the needs of the public. The ceremony provided a collective setting in which these responsibilities could be considered alongside the religious and communal values highlighted by the organisers.
No further details were provided about specific announcements, policy changes or operational decisions made during the director’s address. The event was presented primarily as a thanksgiving gathering and monthly assembly intended to foster gratitude, strengthen relationships among employees and renew their commitment to their responsibilities.
The ceremony concluded as part of JAIS’s ongoing staff engagement activities, with the department emphasising togetherness and dedication in carrying out its duties. Through a combination of in-person and online participation, the gathering brought personnel from different parts of Sarawak into a shared programme focused on gratitude, unity and service to the community. â Sarawak Daily
