KUCHING: Sarawak has introduced a new policy, State-Owned Companies (SOEs) which will be presented in the 2026 State Budget at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting next November.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the policy would consolidate and preserve state assets under a stronger governance framework, ensuring that SOEs operate in line with commercial discipline, social responsibility and long-term sustainability.

“Our SOEs will undergo changes to operate better, more efficiently and with discipline, with the aim of balancing commercial success with public service.

“Improving institutions and governance is essential to realise this vision where good governance ensures that every investment and policy decision is based on integrity, transparency and accountability,” he said.

He said this when speaking at the Official Launch of Sarawak’s 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) at a hotel here on Monday.

In line with this goal, he stressed that Sarawak will adopt a Corporate Governance Code for SOEs, setting new standards for transparency and ethics.

“With digital performance monitoring, we will measure results not only in financial terms, but also the real value provided to the people, clear goals, strong ethics and measurable impact will be the markers of governance excellence,” he stressed.

According to him, Sarawak now has several SOEs that are benchmarks in their respective sectors such as Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) in the oil and gas sector while Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) is driving renewable energy.

In addition, he said, Sarawak Metro is modernising urban mobility, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) has significantly developed downstream industries, tourism and agro-based enterprises, while Sarawak Foundation is investing in education and talent development.

According to Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, the success of this goal will depend on collaboration with the Sarawak Government to provide a vision, the private sector to drive growth, while SOEs are strategic industry catalysts.

Also present at the event were Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Sarawak Cabinet Ministers, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak Deputy Cabinet Ministers, heads of departments and other distinguished guests. -UKASnews

Reported by: Jonnie Kiew
Photographer: Muhammad Rais Sanusi