KUCHING: It is critical of Sarawak to uphold the integrity culture among its people as the state aims to become a high-income status in the next 10 years, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
He pointed out that as the state has already started reengineering its revenue — earning money without depending on the federal government.
“Let this year be the start of integrity culture because by the next decade, the state will become a prosperous and strong one.
“And when it does, we will show them that we are able to maintain it because of our integrity,” he said, adding that Sarawak would embark on various programmes and projects to ensure that the state would achieve the high-income status by 2030.
On Monday, Sim along with his assistant minister Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil and permanent secretary Datuk Antonio Kahti Galos were present at the Ministry’s Integrity Day 2020 at the new State Legislative Assembly Building (DUN).
He noted that Sarawakians currently place high emphasis and expectations on the state government, particularly for a cleaner government administration.
He revealed that seven officers from the ministry and its agencies have been selected to attend the ‘Certified Integrity Officer (CeIO) Series 23 Bil 3/2019’ programme to fight corrupt practices internally.
A total of 400 officers from the ministry and its agencies — Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and 26 Local Authorities — pledged their integrity oath during the ceremony.
After the ceremony, an in-house briefing session was conducted by the Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (Union) chief officer Zulhairy Zaidel. It served as an insight and guidance to all levels of staff to comply with every law, regulation, procedure and policy of the Sarawak government.
