State devt corporation gets major overhaul under SEDC (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. Photo credit: Japen

By Amanda L

KUCHING, May 12: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) today passed the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 introducing key governance, structural and operational reforms to strengthen the State’s development corporation and expand its role in driving economic growth.

Deputy Premier and Second Minister of Finance and New Economy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the amendments were necessary to ensure the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) remains relevant to the State’s evolving economic landscape.

“The existing legal framework no longer fully reflects the scale, structure and commercial complexity of Sarawak’s current economy,” he said during his winding-up speech at the DUS sitting today.

Among the key changes is the renaming of the ordinance to the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation Ordinance, aligning its legal identity with its commonly used name.

The amendments also replace the position of “General Manager” with “Group Chief Executive Officer”, reflecting the Corporation’s expanded structure overseeing subsidiaries and commercial entities.

A new provision was introduced to formalise the role of a Secretary within the organisation, aimed at strengthening governance and administrative coordination.

The Bill further reconstitutes the Corporation’s membership to allow inclusion of expertise from a wider range of fields, broadening its decision-making capacity.

In addition, the amendments enhance the Corporation’s powers to incorporate and establish companies, giving it greater flexibility in investment and commercial activities.

“The changes are intended to strengthen governance, improve operational efficiency and ensure the Corporation remains effective in supporting Sarawak’s economic development agenda,” he added.

The Bill was passed after being debated by 11 assemblymen. — DayakDaily