KOTA SAMARAHAN – The Sarawak Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that development in the state is anchored on integrity, transparency, and public trust. This was underscored during the Community Integrity Building (CIB) Awareness Programme held at the Sarawak State Farmers’ Organisation (PPNS) Hall on Sunday.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, who also serves as Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, officiated the event. He emphasised that the programme is not merely symbolic but represents Sarawak’s determination to progress in a way that is both ethical and sustainable.
“Today is not just a programme. This is a signal that Sarawak not only wants to progress, but wants to progress the right way. Not just looking good on the outside, but strong from within so that the people can trust us,” he said.
He explained that integrity should not be seasonal or dependent on constant monitoring, but must be embedded within the administrative culture and daily practices. The Minister stressed that the true measure of integrity lies in doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
“Integrity isn’t just when there are cameras, audits, or media attention. Integrity is when even when no one is watching, we still do what is right,” he remarked.
Dato Sri Abdul Karim further clarified that integrity involves efficiency in addressing public complaints, adherence to project specifications, responsible use of authority, and fulfilling promises made to the people. He noted that citizens can accept difficult answers but struggle with silence, highlighting the need for integrity to be demonstrated through actions and solutions rather than words alone.
He also pointed to the “co-monitoring” approach central to the CIB Programme, which encourages communities to act as strategic partners alongside Local Authorities (PBT) and implementing agencies. “If everyone moves individually, issues become long. If everyone moves together, issues become short. In today’s system, we want issues to be short, not the people to become tired,” he said.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman), Dato’ Murshid Diraja Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, described the programme as a comprehensive social reform initiative. He stressed that integrity must be lived daily, not treated as a slogan or decorative phrase.
“Integrity is not a slogan, it is not a decoration on a banner. Integrity is a culture that lives in daily decisions, in how we carry out our trust, and in the courage to correct weaknesses openly,” he said.
He added that public complaints should be valued as critical data for improving service delivery. Strong integrity, he explained, builds trust in institutions, which in turn enhances efficiency and organisation in governance.
The event was attended by several key figures, including Wan Mohamad Wan Drahman, Director of the Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNIONS), Harisham Ibrahim, Chief Operations Officer of IIM, Kr Daily Joseph, Deputy Chairman of MPKS, and Rahimah Salwa Hamdan, Samarahan Division Resident representative.
The programme reflects Sarawak’s broader vision of embedding integrity into governance and development, ensuring that progress is not only visible but also credible and trusted by the people.
