Sarawak statutory bodies, GLCs urged to strengthen governance, accelerate implementation

KUCHING (Oct 8): Sarawak’s statutory bodies and government-linked companies (GLCs) must accelerate implementation, enhance coordination, and uphold the highest standards of governance to ensure every policy, investment, and initiative contributes meaningfully to the state’s vision of prosperity, inclusiveness, and sustainability under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said these entities play a pivotal role in realising Sarawak’s ambitions and addressing emerging challenges.

“As custodians of the state’s strategic assets and drivers of economic growth, they carry a vital responsibility to translate government strategies into tangible outcomes that deliver lasting benefits to the people of Sarawak.

“To do so, these institutions must not only be efficient and accountable but also adaptable, collaborative and forward looking.

“These are the qualities that define future ready governance,” he said during the Sarawak Corporate Leadership Summit (SCLS) 2025 at Damai Lagoon Resort in Santubong today.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg graced the event.

Also present were State Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai; and State Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar.

Abu Bakar said SCLS 2025 was designed to strengthen leadership capacity by providing a platform for leaders and decision-makers to reflect, share experiences, and explore new ideas in leadership excellence, sound governance, and strategic collaboration.

“This summit also aims to empower our statutory bodies and GLCs to act boldly, work cohesively and contribute meaningfully to Sarawak’s continued transformation and progress,” he added.

He identified three key focus areas for the summit — leadership, governance, and collaboration.

“Leadership today requires not only technical competence but also courage, integrity and the ability to inspire trust.

“As leaders, we must also ensure our officers are equipped with the right skills and knowledge to lead projects effectively, interpret financials accurately, manage stakeholders strategically and uphold integrity in every decision,” he said.

On governance, he underscored the importance of accountability, transparency, and responsible stewardship of resources.

“Future-ready governance must go further by integrating digital tools, performance-based outcomes, and sustainability principles to make our institutions both compliant and competitive.

“Our systems must continue to evolve with current developments. Through the concept of 3R: Revisit, Rethink, Recharge, we must redefine and digitalise processes, review circulars and procedures and ensure they remain relevant and aligned with future governance standards,” he said.

Touching on collaboration, Abu Bakar stressed that no department, statutory body, or GLC can succeed in isolation.

He said the challenges of finance, technology and sustainability are too complex for any single organisation to tackle alone.

“Collaborative leadership is therefore essential as it promotes the breaking down of silos, alignment of strategies and building of partnerships across sectors to deliver shared outcomes for Sarawak,” he said.

At the summit, Abang Johari delivered a keynote address and participated in a dialogue session moderated by Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM) chairperson Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar.

He also witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE) and ICDM to advance Sarawak’s vision of building an equitable, resilient, and future-focused economy anchored on strong governance.

The partnership will see the development of the Sarawak Directors Academy and Directors Registry — a five-year roadmap to nurture capable directors and empowered board leaders — as well as the curation of strategic platforms such as the Sarawak GLC Leadership Conference and Development Programme Series.

Organised by SCOPE in collaboration with the Sarawak Transformation and Innovation Unit, State Secretary’s Office, State Financial Secretary’s Office, ICDM, and International Institute of Enterprise Risk Practitioners (IERP), SCLS 2025 brings together leaders from GLCs, statutory bodies, and the private sector to strengthen governance, innovation, and leadership capabilities in line with PCDS 2030.

Themed ‘Future-Ready Governance: Catalysing Collaborative Leadership for Sarawak’s Next Leap’, the three-day programme features keynote addresses, leadership dialogues, and case-based workshops led by thought leaders and industry experts.

Sessions cover critical areas such as board effectiveness, financial resilience, risk management, and digital transformation — all tailored to Sarawak’s corporate and public sector landscape.