By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Nov 15: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) members have been reminded that political positions and party affiliations mean little if they fail to uphold integrity and serve the people, with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg saying that no one takes their party shirt with them when they die.
He said public service should be carried out with sincerity and a sense of responsibility, as ultimately people would be judged by their deeds rather than their positions or affiliations.
“I have said before that when we die, we take nothing with us. We do not even take our PBB shirts. We will be wrapped only in white cloth,” he said when speaking at the PBB Southern Zone Convention at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here, today.
The PBB president said people would ultimately be asked what they had done during their lifetime, and that good deeds would bring good rewards.
“That is how we should work. Hopefully, we will earn our rewards through our deeds, while living comfortably, with our families doing well and enjoying good health,” he said.
Abang Johari also stressed the importance of integrity and accountability in government, saying Sarawak had established an Ombudsman system and placed Certified Integrity and Ethics Officers (CEIOs) in government agencies and departments to ensure compliance with procedures and laws and prevent abuse of power.
He said the State had also received international recognition for its efforts to strengthen integrity and combat corruption.
Citing a visit by Drago Kos, chief executive officer of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna, Austria, Abang Johari said Kos had praised Sarawak’s approach and invited him to share the State’s system in Vienna for possible adoption elsewhere.
He said the invitation demonstrated that Sarawak’s integrity framework had attracted recognition beyond the State.
Abang Johari also called for PBB to maintain a balance between experienced members and younger leaders, saying the party needed to continue bringing in young people alongside those with experience.
Also present were PBB deputy presidents Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; senior vice presidents Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof and Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; and permanent chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar. — DayakDaily
