KUCHING: Estonia is an excellent country for Sarawak to emulate as the little European nation is known for its high integrity and transparency.
In raising this, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said that Estonia had undergone a great technological transformation which has made its administration very accessible and transparent.
“Estonia is a little country that today has become a gem in Europe,” he said during the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Integrity Day 2020 at Riverside Majestic Hotel here yesterday.
He observed that due to widespread use of technology by the government and private sector, Estonia has become strong despite its small size.
“This is a lesson to us in Sarawak. If we have that culture, Sarawak can be strong in this region,” he said.
“This culture must permeate from top to bottom and vice versa.”
He then congratulated SEDC for upholding a high standard of integrity over the years.
“That is why you have performed very well.”
The chief minister also emphasised his commitment to integrity in the state’s civil service which was the purpose of the establishment of the post of Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman).
On the shift in the business sector, he said nowadays, the focus was not confined to management by objective, but more towards managing the entire ecosystem.
“This includes lifestyle, market demand, flexibility and, above all, integrity,” said Abang Johari.
He said there must be balance in the ecosystem, as greed could destroy it.
“Today, it is not just about maximisation of profit,” he said, explaining that “wealth was not everything and could even bring a different set of problems to individuals”.
During the ceremony, the SEDC Integrity Awards were presented to staff members in recognition of their integrity.
Besides this, the SEDC Integrity Pledge was also signed by members of the top management and an integrity pledge was also recited.
Also present at the event were Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Transport Assistant Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, International Trade and Industry Assistant Minister Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development Assistant Minister Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, and SEDC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain.
