By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 30: Members of the public can exercise check and balance by lodging complaints to the Sarawak Ombudsman if they feel they have been treated unfairly or if issues raised to government agencies remain unresolved.
Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap said the introduction of Sarawak’s Ombudsman framework under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led government provides a structured and direct channel for the public to report cases of alleged maladministration involving government departments, agencies and local authorities.
He stressed that the mechanism is intended to strengthen governance and ensure accountability within the system.
“So that channel already exists. I don’t know if such a thing exists in West Malaysia, but they (the opposition) have been talking about checks and balances for many years. However, in Sarawak, we have already done it through legislation—the Ombudsman Ordinance,” he said during the ShallWeeTalk live session with Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng today.
Yap noted that while no agency is perfect, including MBKS, continuous improvement must remain the focus rather than repeated public criticism.
“What is important is we work towards reducing deficiencies and inefficiencies,” he said.
He explained that members of the public are generally required to first lodge complaints through existing channels such as agency hotlines, local council feedback systems, or service platforms like Tali Khidmat.
“If issues remain unresolved within a reasonable timeframe, they may escalate the matter to the Ombudsman for investigation, provided proper documentation is available,” he added.
Yap also highlighted that Sarawak is currently the only region in Malaysia with a formal Ombudsman system, describing it as part of the State’s commitment to transparent and accountable governance.
He urged the public to make full use of the mechanism rather than relying solely on political criticism or repeated complaints in the media.
“There is no need for opposition parties to keep criticising and talking about checks and balances, because the people themselves can do the oversight as Sarawak already have an Ombudsman.
“Rather than every day coming out in the press talking about check and balance, but with no effect and no results. Thirty-plus years of just talking about check and balance—from the time they were never in government, never state legislators, never MPs, and now in the federal government still talking about check and balance? I think things have to change,” he added.
Wilfred, who also sits on the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Standing Committee for the Ombudsman, said he is open to receiving documented complaints from residents in his constituency and the wider Kuching area to help resolve persistent issues with relevant authorities.
During the same session, Wee emphasised sincerity and maturity in public service and politics.
“When we serve the people, it must be with sincerity, with wholehearted commitment,” he said, adding that “politicians must be mature enough to know what actually is politics.” — DayakDaily
