By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 12: The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2026 must be a catalyst for a culture of professionalism, accountability, transparency, and delivery within SEDC to ensure meaningful progress for Sarawak.
It is the view of Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap that if the amendment merely involves a change of name while preserving old inefficiencies, then the amendment will achieve very little.
He thus suggested both the Group CEO be measured by results, the secretary by accountability and SEDC itself by the value it creates for the people.
“This House must send a clear signal that appointments to such an office must be guided by merit, capability, integrity, and proven performance — not seniority alone.
“A modern corporate structure demands leadership with commercial vision, strategic discipline, and the ability to compete in an increasingly challenging economic environment,” said Yap when debating the bill at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly here today.
He then proposed several result-oriented objectives:
Firstly, clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be established for the Group CEO and senior management tied directly to project delivery, investment performance, and economic impact.
Secondly, governance and audit mechanisms across SEDC subsidiaries should be strengthened to reduce leakages, delays, and inefficiencies.
Thirdly, annual reporting should become more transparent and accessible so that this House and the public can properly evaluate outcomes and performance.
Fourthly, decision-making processes must become faster and more responsive so that strategic projects do not become trapped in unnecessary bureaucracy.
Finally, SEDC must prioritize investments that create high-quality jobs, strengthen local entrepreneurship, and accelerate Sarawak’s economic transformation. — DayakDaily
