State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said the government’s continued investment in strengthening the Sarawak Civil Service carried with it a responsibility for civil servants to improve their performance, uphold integrity, and ensure the effective implementation of policies and development programmes.

He said the allocations reflected the Sarawak government’s commitment to enhancing the civil service’s capabilities, professionalism, and welfare, while providing the necessary support for personnel to deliver better services.

“Every allocation must be utilised optimally, while every policy, programme and initiative must be implemented with a high level of discipline to ensure that the benefits are truly felt by the people throughout Sarawak,” he said in a statement following the budget tabled by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Monday.

Mohamad Abu Bakar said the government’s commitment is reflected in several allocations under the budget’s ninth strategic thrust – Institutionalising High-Performance Government and Fiscal Resilience.

This included RM25 million for the Leadership Institute Sarawak Civil Service (LISCS) to strengthen leadership development and competencies, and RM2.38 million for a study on developing the Sarawak Civil Service Transformation and Innovation Ecosystem.

He said the investments would help build a high-performing, innovative, and capable civil service equipped to meet increasingly complex administrative demands and public expectations.

The RM347 million allocation for the construction and upgrading of government offices and civil servants’ residential facilities throughout Sarawak would provide a more conducive working environment for personnel in both urban and rural areas.

Meanwhile, RM24 million had been allocated for 65 government digital service projects to accelerate public service transformation, supporting the state government’s target of digitising 80 per cent of government services by 2027 and achieving full digitalisation by 2030.

Mohamad Abu Bakar also welcomed efforts to expand access to internationally recognised professional qualifications through the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE), including those offered by the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) programme.

He said the initiative would enhance civil servants’ expertise in financial management, auditing, and governance, while strengthening efficiency, integrity, and accountability in managing public resources.

He urged all civil servants to remain committed to improving their capabilities and cultivating a culture of integrity, innovation, and excellence in carrying out their duties.

On behalf of the state civil service, Mohamad Abu Bakar expressed appreciation to the Premier for his continued confidence and support, pledging the state civil service would work diligently to ensure the successful implementation of the 2027 Sarawak Budget.

Credits: Samuel Aubrey, The Borneo Post 2026