Deputy minister stresses integrity, discipline in CEIO roles

KUCHING: Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman), Datuk Murshid Diraja Dr Juanda Jaya addressed the critical role of Certified Integrity Officer (CEIO) in promoting integrity and preventing corruption within their departments.

He stressed that CEIO must fully understand the functions of their respective departments to effectively carry out their duties.

He noted that CEIO are not just members of their departments but leaders responsible for ensuring the success of the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which aims to move Sarawak forward with high integrity.

“To be a competent CEIO, we must know the functions of each department. Without this knowledge, we cannot perform our tasks effectively,” he said during the Certified Integrity Officer Programme held at The Waterfront Hotel here on toay (July 2).

He underscored that integrity and image are crucial themes for CEIO, who act as pillars within their departments.

He went on to highlight the importance of preventive measures in combating corruption, noting that the role of CEIO is to prevent mistakes before they happen, rather than to find fault.

Addressing discipline issues, he called for prompt and decisive actions to rectify mistakes and avoid overreaction. He shared examples of successful measures taken to resolve financial issues and stressed the importance of continuous improvement and accountability.

“In our office, if there is a deficiency, we will fix it. If there is an advantage, we will make it better,” he noted.

He also pointed out the importance of a supportive ecosystem, urging departments and agencies to invite him or the union to provide further guidance and support.

“If we don’t culture people, they will not be aware of things that must be done. If the good ecosystem doesn’t exist, the bad will take over and destroy our agencies.”