KUCHING, May 15 2026: The Sarawak Ombudsman is now fully operational after meeting the minimum membership provided for under the Sarawak Ombudsman Ordinance 2023, thus strengthening its role as a check and balance mechanism on public administration in the state.
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Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department Dr Juanda Jaya said since the appointment of the Ombudsman members in April 2024, the institution has gone through a strengthening phase and is now fully functional with five members out of the maximum seven members allowed.
He said the jurisdiction of the Sarawak Ombudsman covers monitoring of state government agencies, local authorities (PBT), state statutory bodies, government-linked companies (GLCs) as well as any entity that receives allocations or emoluments from the state government.
He added that the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (SLA) also approved the establishment of a Special Select Committee to examine the Ombudsman's annual report before it is tabled in the legislative assembly.
"This measure will ensure that every suggestion and remark submitted by the Ombudsman can be evaluated and its implementation by the government is ensured," he told reporters after leading a delegation from Sarawak Ombudsman Office to pay a courtesy call on Premier Abang Johari Abang Openg at the Sarawak Premier's Office, at SLA complex today.
Juanda said the Sarawak Ombudsman has so far received 67 complaints and all of the complaints have gone through a screening process before further action is taken.
According to him, complaints involving criminal elements have been channeled to the police, while cases with corruption elements are referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Apart from that, there are also complaints that have not been processed because they are outside the Ombudsman's jurisdiction or have been decided by the court.
He explained that the Sarawak Ombudsman's main focus is on issues of maladministration involving state government agencies, local authorities, statutory bodies and GLCs.
The public can submit complaints via letter, email or the Sarawak Ombudsman's official website which is classified as confidential.
He said that at the same time, his office is currently developing a mobile application to facilitate the process of channeling complaints.
“The Sarawak Ombudsman is committed to strengthening integrity, accountability and the rule of law in the state, thus increasing investor confidence in the Sarawak administration system,” he said.
He also informed that the official website of the Sarawak Ombudsman has recorded more than 800,000 hits so far and has received the attention of international delegations interested in understanding the implementation of the Ombudsman system in Sarawak.
Also present at the courtesy call were Sarawak government secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Chief Ombudsman Abdul Ghafur Shariff,Director of the Human Resources Management and Development Unit, Sharifah Rohana Wan Alwi, Director of the Integrity and Ombudsman Unit Wan Mohamad Wan Drahman, Ombudsman Buckland Bangik, Albert Tang Yew Liong and Toieyah Tioh and Deputy Chief Ombudsman Alexander Unya Ambon.
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