PUTRAJAYA – Two prominent Sarawakian organisations have been recognised for their exemplary standards at a prestigious national awards ceremony. The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (PUSAKA) secured the highest honour, while the Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) also received distinction.
PUSAKA was presented with the Public Sector Gold Award at the National Integrity, Governance & Anti-Corruption Awards (AIGA) 2025. The event was held at the Perdana Hall within the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC). This top accolade underscores the corporation’s profound commitment to upholding principles of integrity and superior organisational governance.
The award ceremony was officiated by the Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The event attracted senior government figures, including the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, alongside board members of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) and leaders from numerous public and private bodies.
The Gold Award was collected by Datu Zainal Abidin Abdullah, the General Manager of PUSAKA, who was accompanied by senior officers from the corporation. The victory is particularly significant given the intense competition, which involved 131 public sector entities and 71 private sector organisations from across Malaysia.
Among the contenders were 16 government agencies from Sarawak. PUSAKA’s achievement is notable as it was the sole recipient of the Gold Award from the state this year, setting a benchmark for administrative excellence. The AIGA Council serves as a respected platform to evaluate and enhance the internal control systems of participating organisations.
Its focus rests firmly on the core areas of integrity, governance, and anti-corruption measures. In a further demonstration of Sarawak’s strong showing, RECODA was honoured with a Bronze Award. The organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Ismawi Ismuni, was present to accept the award.
The recognition for both PUSAKA and RECODA highlights the broader efforts within Sarawak’s public sector to institutionalise best practices. Fourteen other agencies from the state also participated in the AIGA 2025 programme, indicating a widespread commitment to transparency and accountability.
The participating Sarawak agencies included Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad and several key state departments. The list encompassed the Sarawak Islamic Religious Affairs Department, the Forest Department, and the Syariah Judicial Department. Technical and infrastructure departments were also well-represented.
These included the Irrigation and Drainage Department and the Land and Survey Department. Two state ministries—the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government and the Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunications—also took part. Local government participation was robust.
It featured the Kuching South City Council, the Miri City Council, and the Sarikei District Council. The Sibu Municipal Council also joined the roster of participants. Completing the delegation were the Miri Port Authority and the Sarawak State Library. Their collective involvement signals a state-wide drive towards improved governance.
