SERIAN: The Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNIONS) has deployed 166 Certified Integrity Officers (CeIO) to various posts, departments, and government-affiliated businesses.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier Department (Integrity and Ombudsman), Datuk Juanda Jaya said that this step is to ensure that integrity, transparency, and good governance will continue to be practised by public servants in the state.
He stressed that all the officers were born out of an idea by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg under the supervision of UNIONS in 2018.
“All of them (the CIOs) are placed in various ministries, departments, administrative sections, statutory bodies, and several government-related companies.
“Recently, the Sarawak government decided that all financial reports and expenditure budgets from statutory bodies and local authorities must be submitted to a Cabinet Special Committee under UNIONS for review and comments before being sent to the Cabinet.
“This is for review and comments before being sent to the Cabinet,” he said.
He said this during the Serian District Integrity Tour officiating ceremony at a local hotel here yesterday (April 6).
In the light of this, he emphasised that such a step is a proactive measure by the federal government to strengthen the governance and internal management capacity of a government organisation in achieving goals and functions more effectively.
The Jemoreng assemblyman asserted that the Sarawak government is also collaborating with the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) to develop suitable instruments towards building a culture of good governance, high integrity, and anti-corruption.
On the same note, he encouraged the public to join UNIONS in combating inefficiency in public services by submitting complaints through this unit so that investigations can be conducted against those reported, rather than making submissions on social media.
“All complaints will be investigated based on the principles of the international ombudsman, namely freedom, equality, and confidentiality,” he added.
Earlier, the Integrity Tour was presided over by the Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD) Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn.
The event was also enlivened with a lecture session by the Social Welfare Department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sarawak regarding integrity.
Also present were the Deputy Minister of Commodities and Regional Development of Sarawak Martin Ben, Bukit Semuja Assemblyman John Ilus, deputy director of the Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit Wan Mohamad Wan Drahman, and other distinguished guests.
