Dr Sim in a group photo with all attendees. – Photo by Kong Jun Liung

KUCHING (March 6): Sarawak must instil strong integrity values in its younger generation to ensure sustainable prosperity and prevent the collapse of what has been built over the years, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Speaking during the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak Integrity Day 2025 at a hotel here today, Dr Sim emphasised that the younger generation in Sarawak should have already been strengthened with such values.

“Because they are trusted with more money – more money than now. Therefore, we want to have these values so that our prosperity continues to be able to sustain.

“If we don’t have these integrity values, (and) if we cannot sustain (our prosperity), whatever we have built up over the years, it will collapse. So, that’s why all these are so important for us to continue to ensure that we can shape Sarawak’s younger generation.

“And Sarawak’s younger generation, as far as I’m concerned, is even more important than currently,” he said.

Dr Sim, who is also the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, highlighted the rapid increase in Sarawak’s financial capacity, noting that the state’s budget has grown from RM5.8 billion in 2018 to over RM15 billion in 2025.

“By 2030, Sarawak will be a lot more prosperous than now. Meaning that our budget will be more than RM20 billion. If in 2018 it was RM5.8 billion, by 2028, it will be even more than this year.

“This means that our younger generation must be equipped with strong values because they will be entrusted with even more financial responsibilities,” he said.

He pointed out that as Sarawak progresses, governance and integrity will play a crucial role in ensuring sustainability.

“We must be moving to the next level already to sustain Sarawak. We are talking about sustainability already—sustainability with values, sustainability with integrity,” he said.

Dr Sim also commended DID Sarawak for its commitment to integrity through various initiatives, including the adoption of the Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) and the appointment of integrity officers.

He emphasised that maintaining integrity is an ongoing effort that requires structural improvements and cultural shifts within organisations.

“It takes time because integrity is not something you do once a year and expect it to be solved. Some of it is cultural, some of it is structural, and some of it depends on laws such as the Ombudsman Act and MACC’s (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) powers,” he said.

He also reiterated the Sarawak government’s commitment to good governance, highlighting initiatives such as the establishment of the Sarawak Ombudsman and the state’s focus on transparency and accountability.

Dr Sim expressed hope that all agencies under his ministry would continue to uphold integrity and renew their commitment annually.

Present at the event were Public Health, Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak director Datu Ir Ts Ahmad Denney Ahmad Fauzi, Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit director Wan Mohamad Wan Drahman, Sarawak MACC Deputy Director (Prevention) Wan Ahmad Nidzam Wan Omar, and Sirim Sarawak regional director Shahrizan Mohammad Sahmoni.