Integrity starts from within, not system alone, says Sarawak minister

MIRI (Jan 30): Integrity must begin with each individual, as no system or regulation, no matter how advanced or can function effectively without honesty and moral responsibility, said Sarawak Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi.

In his address at the Sarawak Water Integrity Day 2026 celebration, Julaihi said meaningful organisational change can only take place when employees embrace integrity as a personal value, rather than merely complying with written rules or procedures.

His speech was delivered by his deputy, Datuk Liwan Lagang, who represented him to officiate at the event.

Speaking on the theme ‘Integrity Starts with Us’, Julaihi said the message was simple yet profound, reminding every Sarawak Water employee that integrity must be nurtured from within and reflected in daily actions.

“Integrity is not merely a set of rules written in a handbook.

“It is a value that must live in the heart of every Sarawak Water employee,” he said.

According to Julaihi, even the most sophisticated systems and the strictest laws would fail if individuals lacked honesty and ethical discipline.

He urged employees not to wait for others to change, but lead by example for colleagues and the wider community.

“Every action we take reflects the image of Sarawak Water.

“Public trust can only be built through clean and transparent work,” he said, adding that strong personal principles would help prevent corruption, abuse of power and misconduct.

He noted that integrity is the foundation of public confidence, particularly in the water sector, which plays a vital role in the daily lives and well-being of the people of Sarawak.

Julaihi also reaffirmed the Sarawak government’s commitment to strengthening integrity in governance, in line with the state’s vision to become a developed region by 2030, emphasising that infrastructure development must go hand in hand with ethical leadership and accountable public service.

The Integrity Day celebration, organised by Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd, served as a platform to reinforce ethical values, accountability and transparency among its workforce, while supporting the state’s broader agenda of clean, efficient and trustworthy governance.

Also present were State Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak permanent secretary Datu Jafri Lias and Acting Sarawak Water chief executive officer Malseni Jamal.