By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, May 23: Sarawak will introduce an ombudsman system which will be based on the Swedish model, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the ombudsman system will be upgraded through legislation which will be tabled in the next Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting at the end of the year.
“This process is based on what happened to Sweden.
“We learn from Sweden where this system will report to our DUN.
“They are independent and that will help us to improve the integrity of our government,” he said when delivering his keynote address at the opening of the 5th Malaysian Banking and Finance Summit held in Kuala Lumpur today. His speech was livestreamed on the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) Facebook page.
The word ‘ombudsman’ means ‘representative’ or ‘agent’ in Swedish.
The ombudsman concept was first introduced in Sweden in 1809 where the Swedish Parliament appointed an official to investigate complaints against public officials and attempt to resolve them.
On April 5, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya said the proposed Sarawak Ombudsman Ordinance, the first such ordinance in Malaysia, could be tabled in the Sarawak DUN at the end of the year.
The draft of the ordinance, he said, is completed and once endorsed by the Sarawak government, would be brought to DUN.
Amongst those present at the event were KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific president Tan Sri Michael O K Yeoh and The Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur chairman and KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal Rawther. — DayakDaily
