KUCHING, April 9: After serving in the state civil service for some 39 years including eight years in the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) as its general manager (GM), Datu Sarudu Hoklai can finally spend more time playing his favourite sport golf.
Sarudu retired as STIDC’s GM as of April 5, 2018 after clocking out for the last time at the age of 63 after his contract expired.
And now, his successor would have big shoes to fill. But for now STIDC deputy GM Hashim Bojet will be acting GM.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said Sarudu was very versatile having served in various posts in the state civil service. His retirement meant a great loss to STIDC as he had achieved so much while managing the corporation.
“Among his achievements for STIDC were the state’s planted forest programme as well as several performance and excellence achievements for the corporation.
“He had successfully sorted out STIDC’s organisational structure to make it more efficient, and was also involved in efforts to come up with a comprehensive and focused master plan to encourage a more high value added timber industry,” said Tengah during Sarudu’s retirement dinner at a hotel here on Sunday night.
Awang Tengah who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment said Sarudu was a fast learner and despite having an administrative background, he managed to learn the ins and outs of the timber industry.
Sarudu had also led STIDC to become the state’s first organisation to use balanced scorecards to measure the corporation’s performance, which has now become a benchmark for many other state agencies, added Awang Tengah.
Sarudu meanwhile thanked all top officers including Awang Tengah who had always been there to help him when in need when managing STIDC.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to work in STIDC and gain new experience and knowledge in the timber industry for eight years.
“I have also gained a lot of experience and met many different characters, and (learnt) different ways of doing things.
“Now I can enjoy my golf more,” he said.
Sarudu graduated from Ohio University, USA with a Corporate Master of Business Administration degree after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1979.
Since he joined the civil service in 1980, he has served in various capacities statewide. Among the key posts he has held were the Director of Human Resource Management in the Chief Minister’s Department, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Urban Development, Resident of Mukah and Kota Samarahan Divisions, and District Officer of Mukah, Bintulu and Belaga.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Sarudu was conferred with several awards such as ‘Darjah Jasa Bakti Sarawak’ (DJBS) which carries the title ‘Datu’, ‘Kesatria Mangku Negara’ (KMN), ‘Johan Bintang Kenyalang’ (JBK), ‘Pingat Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang’ (PBK), and ‘Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti’ (Perak). — DayakDaily
