KUCHING – Sarawak celebrated its first-ever Ombuds Day 2025 this week, underscoring the state’s commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability and fairness in public administration.
The event, held at the Riverside Majestic Hotel, was officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg, with his keynote address delivered by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian.
The celebration also marked the launch of the official Ombudsman Sarawak logo, symbolising a new chapter in the state’s governance framework.
The Ombudsman concept, which originated in Sweden in the 1700s, has since been adopted globally as a mechanism to ensure fairness and justice in governance.
Sarawak joined its ASEAN neighbours Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines by passing the Sarawak Ombudsman Ordinance in 2023, establishing itself as part of the regional network of Ombudsman institutions.
In his speech, Premier Abang Johari emphasised that Ombuds Day was not merely ceremonial but a moment of reflection.
“Ombuds Day is not merely a celebration; it is a reflection. It invites us to ask: How do we govern? How do we make decisions? And most importantly, how do we respond to the people we serve?” he said.
He stressed that the ombudsman principle is rooted in fairness and justice, ensuring grievances are heard, decisions reviewed impartially, and public administration held to the highest standards of integrity.
These values, he said, resonate strongly with Sarawak’s own principles of fairness, transparency and people-centred governance.
The Premier further noted that good governance begins at every level of public service, not just at the top. “A government’s strength lies not only in its financial or technological capability, but in the ethical authority it commands through integrity and honesty,” he added.
The theme of the event, “Planting the Seeds of Good Governance”, was highlighted as a reminder that integrity and discipline must be nurtured consistently, much like tending a garden.
Dr Sim, representing the Premier, reiterated that work management based on ethics and honesty is the shared responsibility of all government employees, from policy formulation to frontline service delivery.
Also present at the event were Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, and other senior officials.
The gathering also extended a warm welcome to Ombudsman representatives from Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, who joined the celebration as part of regional cooperation in strengthening governance practices.
The establishment of the Ombudsman in Sarawak is expected to provide citizens with a trusted channel for complaints and oversight, ensuring that public services are delivered with professionalism, fairness and accountability.
As Sarawak continues to modernise its governance framework, Ombuds Day 2025 stands as a milestone in embedding integrity and ethical responsibility at the heart of public service.
