Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will continue to support the Sarawak Ombudsman in its efforts to enhance governance and integrity within the state administration. MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki emphasized the commission's commitment to providing assistance and cooperation, including the sharing of expertise and the secondment of officers, which had commenced even before the Sarawak Ombudsman was established.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tan Sri Azam Baki highlighted that MACC had proactively sent officers to engage in sessions and benchmarking activities in various countries to study their Ombudsman models. Officers with expertise in integrity have also been seconded to the Sarawak Ombudsman to further this collaborative effort. This statement was made during a press interaction following his courtesy visit to the Sarawak Premier at Kompleks Satria Pertiwi.

On November 20, 2023, the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly passed the Sarawak Ombudsman Bill 2023. The bill is designed to enable the public to report cases of maladministration involving state public service agencies and aims to enhance transparency and accountability within government agencies. It also seeks to ensure a system of checks and balances while improving public service delivery and procedures.

Azam noted the significance of the Sarawak Ombudsman, pointing out that it provides a dedicated platform for monitoring governance and administrative ethics issues. He remarked that unlike other states in Malaysia, Sarawak has its own Ombudsman, which serves as a specific body overseeing governance matters in state administration.