Deputy Premier: Public sector innovation must deliver real impact, not just trophies

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 2: Innovation in the public sector must be translated into practical solutions that deliver real and lasting benefits to the people, rather than serving merely as achievements showcased through trophies or reports.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian stressed that the true value of innovation lies not in the recognition it receives, but in the positive impact it creates on the well-being of the community.

“Innovation does not necessarily mean inventing something entirely new, but can also involve improving existing systems and services to ensure more effective delivery to the people.

“If innovation does not have an impact on people, then it is only for trophies. What matters is whether the innovations we produce truly bring about change to the communities and people we serve,” he said in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news.

He highlighted this at the Closing and Awards Presentation Ceremony of the Innovative and Creative Group (KIK) 2026 Convention of the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) yesterday (July 1).

Dr Sim also urged that every successful innovation should not remain confined to a single project or documentation, but be expanded and adopted by other agencies to maximise its benefits.

He said the convention theme, ‘Innovating Public Services, Transforming Communities’, reflected the importance of cross-agency collaboration, as innovative ideas can emerge from any department and be developed to address common challenges.

The Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government added that civil servants play a crucial role in Sarawak’s development agenda towards 2030 through the implementation of digitalisation, smart city initiatives, organisational reforms and the strengthening of State-owned companies.

“The growing confidence in Sarawak today is the result of the collective efforts of civil servants, local authorities, government agencies and the people,” he said.

Drawing on the success of the Sarawak Heart Centre, which has treated more than 300,000 patients over the past 25 years, Dr Sim said the true measure of innovation is its ability to improve lives, save lives and contribute meaningfully to the state’s progress.

He also called on KIK participants to continue producing innovations that can be translated into practical solutions and become part of Sarawak’s broader development agenda.

Also present were MPHLG permanent secretary Datu Elizabeth Loh, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak director Datu Ir Ts Ahmad Denny Ahmad Fauzi, MPHLG deputy permanent secretary Desmond Douglas Jerukan, as well as heads of departments, members of the evaluation panel and participants of the KIK 2026 Convention. — DayakDaily

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