KUCHING: The inaugural session of the Development Programme Series for Sarawak Civil Service (SCS) Leaders, a strategic initiative designed to strengthen leadership effectiveness and governance excellence within Sarawak's public sector, was held on Wednesday.
According to a statement, this landmark programme was a collaborative effort between the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE) and the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM), underscores a shared commitment to building a future-ready public service and enhancing board leadership across both the public and private sectors.
“The programme, running from 16 to 19 July 2025 in Kuching, is a workshop-based series for up to 46 SCS Leaders.
“It is meticulously designed to equip participants with the skills to think strategically, lead with accountability, and navigate complex challenges with confidence.
“By deepening their understanding of directors’ duties, fiduciary responsibilities, and ethical oversight, the programme aims to empower SCS leaders to uphold public trust and institutional integrity,” it said on Wednesday.
Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki emphasised the critical need for this initiative in his opening speech.
"As the state advances aggressively on the Sarawak Civil Service transformation journey, it is imperative for our civil servants to build greater capacity to face future challenges.
“We aim to prepare senior officers to take on board directorship roles, encouraging them to expand beyond their domain expertise, gain exposure to the corporate world, and grow as the next generation of leaders,” he said.
This sentiment resonates with the vision articulated by the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg earlier this year, who re-emphasised the Sarawak Government's commitment to building a future-ready public service that is agile, innovative, and people-centric through training and development to strengthen leadership capabilities and ensure the public sector remains effective and responsive.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of SCOPE, Joseph Lim reaffirmed the strategic collaboration between SCOPE and ICDM to establish a robust long-term plan for directors’ development to ensure that board leaders are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and networks to drive sustainable growth.
“We are committed to strengthening leadership capabilities, enhancing governance frameworks, and cultivating a robust pipeline of future-ready public sector directors through increased exposure to the corporate landscape,” he said.
As the national institute of directors (IoD) in Malaysia, ICDM plays a pivotal role in capacity building and professional development, providing a strong foundation to guide directors through every stage of their journey.
This collaboration with SCOPE exemplifies ICDM’s dedication to fostering robust governance not only within the private sector but also extending its expertise to strengthen public sector leadership.
Incoming President and CEO of ICDM, Jackie Mah reinforced this commitment.
“In a rapidly changing world, public service leaders must be equipped with foresight, agility, and cross-sector capabilities. Investing in their growth is not just timely—it is essential for future-ready governance,” he stressed. -UKASnews
