By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 28: The Sarawak government has introduced a new Code of Ethics in State Government Procurement to enhance transparency, integrity, and accountability in public procurement processes, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
Delivering his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) today, Uggah said procurement remains one of the most critical components of public sector governance and is particularly vulnerable to moral lapses including conflicts of interest, excessive influence, and non- transparent decision-making.
“This Code is developed to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability among all stakeholders involved in the procurement process, including the State Civil Service (SCS), Sarawak government-linked companies (GLCs), and bidders or suppliers.
“It embodies the government’s firm commitment to the principles of good governance aimed at preventing malpractice and misconduct among government officials in procurement activities,” he said.
Uggah, who is also the Second Minister for Finance and New Economy, also provided updates on Sarawak’s e-Procurement system, which is being developed in phases.
Stage 1, which involves the development of the e-Direct Purchase module, has been completed, while Stage 2, focusing on the e-Quotation module, is currently underway. Stage 3, which will cover the e-Tender module, is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2025.
Addressing concerns raised by Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Lo Khere Chiang and Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang on consultancy procurement and professional fees, Uggah defended the open tender system practised by the Sarawak government.
“Some may view this as encouraging the undercutting of professional fees, but in reality, the tendering process is designed to promote fairness, transparency, and quality,” he said.
He emphasised that open tendering is not simply about selecting the lowest bid, but about identifying the best overall proposal—one that offers a sound technical approach at a reasonable cost.
Uggah also noted that the tender process ensures equal opportunities for all qualified consultants, fosters innovation and continuous improvement, and guarantees accountability and auditability.
He added that the system employs a two-envelope evaluation method, in which proposals are assessed strictly on technical merits, qualifications, project methodology, and past performance. Only proposals that meet the technical standards proceed to the next stage of evaluation.
“Through the tendering process, we open up the opportunities to many other qualified consultants instead of reliant on known or preferred providers. Since the process is legally binding, it protects both government interests and consultants’ right.
“In essence, competitive bidding for consultancy services is deemed necessary to ensure fairness and high-quality consultancy outcomes particularly in large scale projects,” he added. – DayakDaily
