KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has today announced the official launch of its Community Integrity Building (CIB) Programme aimed at fostering greater integrity, transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
The launch took place at the MBKS Auditorium on 24 January and was headed by Dato Wee Hong Seng, Mayor of Kuching South. The event was attended by officials from government agencies, community partners, members of Child Councils and citizens.
In his speech, Dato Wee said that the CIB Programme is underpinned by three core principles: transparency in decision-making; responsiveness to public feedback and accountability in issue resolution. The idea, he said, is that the project repairs systems and trust between authorities and the people.
“The community is not a mere recipient of services, but it is a partner in seeking solutions,” he said. He also emphasized that integrity can no longer be a slogan or an item in a report; it must be shown through concrete actions every day. “Integrity is how we serve. It’s how quickly we receive, how well we explain, how fairly we decide and how graciously we treat the folks who do come to us for help,” he said.
The Mayor also mentioned the active role of the Child council, as a means to teach integrity through early ages and form future responsible men. The addition of the reading programme demonstrates MBKS’ long term investment in the development of values within society.
With appreciation for the cooperation of national and state agencies, Dato Wee thanked Malaysia’s Institute of Integrity (IIM), its Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNIONS) as well as MPHLG. He pointed out that MBKS had been identified as one of the active local authorities under the CIB Programme in Sarawak, an indication of its continuous commitment to maintaining integrity in its administration.
The CIB Programme is an integral component of a wider government-wide programme designed to institutionalise integrity across the public service for local councils to be effective, transparent and accountable. Involving Batu Kawah community representatives, and youth councils are in MBKS’s plans to develop a participative government that citizens can influence in creating policies.
Some have noted the program mirrors increasing demands on transparency at local government. As citizens’ demands for accountability grow, projects like CIB are recognized as vital in developing trust and the relationship between authorities and the people they serve.
The launching also ended with a commitment of MBKS and partners to maintain the high standard towards integrity and accountability, establishing the council as an exemplary ethical governance for Sarawak.
