PERTH – The Sarawak Ombudsman’s Office has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening accountability and governance during a working visit to Australia, where its delegation engaged with the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) of Western Australia.
The visit, now in its third day, forms part of the Sarawak Ombudsman Working Visit to Australia Programme, aimed at enhancing institutional integrity and learning best practices in public accountability.
Leading the delegation were Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman), Dato’ Murshid DiRaja Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, together with Sarawak Ombudsman Chairman, Dato Sri Abdul Ghafur Shariff, and senior officials from the Ombudsman’s Office.
During the session, the delegation was briefed by Dr John Byrne, Commissioner for Equal Opportunity in Western Australia, on the EOC’s procedures, investigative frameworks, and management practices.
The discussions covered how the EOC handles complaints, ensures transparency in investigations, and maintains public confidence in its operations.
Officials noted that the exchange provided valuable insights into how the EOC balances enforcement with fairness, while also protecting the rights of individuals.
The Sarawak delegation emphasised that such knowledge would be instrumental in strengthening the Ombudsman’s role in Sarawak, particularly in ensuring that government services are delivered efficiently and equitably.
The visit also highlighted Sarawak’s ongoing reforms under the Sarawak Ombudsman Ordinance 2023, which mandates accountability and transparency across public institutions.
These reforms are aligned with the Post-COVID Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which seeks to modernise governance and improve service delivery across the state.
Delegates stressed that the cooperation between Sarawak and Australia is not only about learning technical processes, but also about reinforcing the Ombudsman’s role as a guardian of integrity.
The partnership is expected to strengthen institutional frameworks, restore public trust, and support Sarawak’s broader governance agenda.
The working visit concluded with a commitment to continue collaboration between the Sarawak Ombudsman and the EOC, ensuring that lessons learned in Australia can be adapted to Sarawak’s context to improve accountability, transparency, and public service standards.
