Sarawak approves 46 admin building projects worth RM1.2b
State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said of this amount, five are construction projects of the Integrated Government Administration Centres (IAC) at the divisional level. So far, a total of 16 projects have been completed in various districts and sub-districts, including the Sarikei IAC, which was inaugurated today, and the Serian IAC.
'A total of seven projects are currently in various stages of implementation, and these include the Bintulu IAC, Limbang IAC and Lawas IAC. Meanwhile, another 23 projects are still in the planning stage,' he said in a speech at the opening ceremony of the Sarikei IAC building today.
The new 12-story building, costing RM147.25 million, now houses around 500 civil servants from various government departments and agencies. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg officiated at the opening ceremony.
Abang Johari also announced plans for the construction of new quarters for civil servants, designed as modern apartments, involving an allocation of RM3.55 billion to build 3,672 units in 67 locations throughout the state.
'This development is a form of recognition and appreciation from the Sarawak government to civil servants as the backbone in the implementation of the state's development agenda. Conducive workplace and residential facilities will enhance the quality of public service,' he said.
The new Sarikei IAC building will house 10 departments and agencies under one roof, including the Resident's Office, District Office, Land and Survey Department, Public Works Department as well as Rural Water Supply Department.
Also in operation will be the Sarawak Service Centre and Sarawak Government Counter on the ground floor of the building, which offers various digital services based on the 'Whole-of-Government' concept.
This approach allows people to conduct transactions more easily, efficiently and with time-saving.
'This initiative aligns with the 'One Stop Customer Centric Service Delivery' approach that emphasises convenience and efficiency in delivering public services to the people,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Focus Malaysia
12 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Cyber resilience in Malaysia: Why compliance isn't enough
IN today's hyperconnected world, compliance is often seen as the gold standard for cybersecurity. Across Malaysia, financial institutions, critical infrastructure providers, and businesses have made significant strides aligning with frameworks such as Bank Negara Malaysia's Risk Management in Technology (RMiT) guidelines, the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), and various sector-specific regulations. Yet breaches continue to make headlines, affecting even the most 'compliant' organisations. Why? The reality is compliance is only the starting line, not the finish line. In a rapidly evolving threat landscape, true cyber resilience demands much more. Compliance alone can't keep pace with threats While regulatory frameworks are a crucial foundation, they represent only the minimum baseline. Threat actors are not bound by minimum standards, they are innovating faster than regulations can evolve. Sophisticated ransomware gangs, state-sponsored groups, and cybercriminal syndicates are constantly refining their tactics. According to CyberSecurity Malaysia, local organisations faced over 19 million cyber threats in the first half of 2024, resulting in financial losses exceeding RM1.2 bil. Regional findings from Sophos indicate that 83% of APJ organisations report increased operational complexity due to cybersecurity regulations, with 36% citing employee stress and burnout as a direct result. Yet, 56% still recognise that these frameworks improve both cybersecurity and business resilience, highlighting the need to balance compliance with practical, scalable implementation. Clearly, businesses must go beyond regulatory checklists and adopt proactive, intelligence-driven security measures. At Sophos, our 2024 Threat Report highlights emerging tactics such as data extortion without encryption, AI-powered phishing campaigns, and the exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities, all occurring faster than typical regulatory update cycles. In Malaysia, sectors like education, healthcare, SMEs, and financial services are increasingly targeted by multi-extortion ransomware attacks. For business leaders, compliance should be seen as a foundation, not a complete strategy. Cyber resilience demands real-time threat monitoring, AI-driven automation for faster incident response, and comprehensive recovery frameworks. In today's environment, 'checking the box' is no longer enough; security must be responsive, intelligence-led, and fully embedded across operations. The growing problem of framework fatigue At the same time, organisations are grappling with an ever-expanding maze of cybersecurity frameworks; international, industry-specific, and national. This burden is particularly acute for SMEs, which often lack the resources and expertise needed for robust cybersecurity implementation. This complexity can lead to framework fatigue: confusion, burnout, and decision paralysis that prevent effective action. While frameworks aim to provide clarity, without the right support, they risk overwhelming the very organisations they are meant to protect. Malaysia's evolving regulatory environment holds promise for streamlining this complexity. However, businesses must be equipped with practical guidance, scalable technologies, and actionable strategies to bridge the gap between compliance and true resilience. From compliance to resilience: A strategic imperative It's no longer enough to ask, 'Are we compliant?' Organisations must ask: Are our cybersecurity strategies aligned with real-world threats? Do we have the visibility, control, and speed necessary to detect and respond to incidents? Cyber resilience must be a board-level priority, recognised as a critical enabler of trust, operational continuity, and competitive advantage. Organisations that treat cybersecurity as a strategic business imperative today will be the ones that thrive in Malaysia's increasingly digital economy. ‒ July 31, 2025 Aaron Bugal is the Field CTO of Sophos. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Tech Wire Asia
Barnama
13 hours ago
- Barnama
Persevere Together To Take Malaysia Forward
BUSINESS By Mikhail Raj Abdullah KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 (Bernama) – The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) unveiled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today contains actionable insights with practical people-centric strategies that aim to create value across a wide spectrum of sectors and transform the economy to be competitive internationally in the next five years and beyond. Unlike previous five-year development plans, which sometimes included lofty plans and grandiose projects, the 13MP, themed 'redesigning development', encompasses plans to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively to achieve a high-income economy, sustainability, equity, and ultimately uplifting the rakyat towards high income. The plan also includes strategies towards gender equality, with women targeted to comprise 60 per cent of the country's workforce. Diversifying the economy would be a core thrust of the plan, but the services, manufacturing and construction sectors would remain the main sources of growth while exports – a mainstay of Malaysia's revenue - are set to expand by 5.8 per cent per year. In emphasising that no one or group should be left behind, the plan is inclusive, containing strategies that ensure real-life delivery which explicitly aligns with the Madani economic framework. Emerging as a high-income nation and being among the top 30 major economies is a challenge, but achievable if all sections of the people, industry, and the private and public sectors join hands and galvanise their resources towards achieving this objective. No less important in achieving what is surely a national agenda and moving the country forward is proper and better administration, which is a key ingredient to ensure the effective implementation of 13MP. But money alone would not suffice to execute the plan effectively. The Prime Minister's 13MP speech was also a call for the 1.7 million civil servants and private sector workers to realise that they too play a critical role in ensuring a whole of country success through greater industriousness. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, showed he meant business when he allocated a larger sum of RM611 billion for the 13MP compared with the 12th Malaysia Plan. Of this amount, a significant RM227 billion will be allocated to the economic sector, which is expected to generate returns on investment for the economy during the five years.
The Star
16 hours ago
- The Star
Don't 'run in place', focus on poorer states, Perikatan tells PM
PETALING JAYA: The success of the 13th Malaysian Plan (13MP) relies on the Madani government's political sincerity and transparency, otherwise it risks becoming an exercise of "running in place", says Perikatan Nasional. The Opposition coalition expressed concerns that, unlike the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the 13MP does not commit development expenditure to the six less-developed states: Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis. Perikatan's economic portfolio head, Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman, highlighted this in a statement following the presentation of the 13MP in Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 1). The Bachok MP noted the absence of a narrative in "increasing rakyat ownership" in the 13MP, suggesting it appears to cater more to capital owners rather than the broader population. "Without bold implementation, 13MP risks failing to move the country forward — leaving it merely 'running in place'," he said. Syahir said that from a regional development perspective, 13MP shows a general commitment to balanced development between states, but it did not specify any fiscal distribution formula or quantitative targets for states such as Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis. "It is more concerning that 13MP seems to have no mention of fiscal reform in federal and state relations, revenue sharing (including tax and mineral revenues such as petroleum), or efforts to strengthen a more mature and fair federalism. Yet, these are key reasons behind the growing regional development gap. "Fair development cannot take place if states continue to be sidelined from the planning and implementation process," said Syahir. He pointed out that while the 13MP acknowledges issues such as income inequality, low wages, and dependency on foreign direct investment (FDI), the plan lacks bold reform. "The 13MP does not emphasise the issue of economic ownership by the people, especially for the Bumiputera community, rural populations, and informal workers," he said He also asked what were 13MP's long-term strategies to boost productivity, provide support networks for the elderly, and formulate progressive and sustainable labour policies. 'As a responsible opposition bloc, Perikatan MPs will scrutinise each priority and pillar presented, propose improvements to implementation strategies, demand transparency in fiscal distribution, and champion the rights and voices of states that have long been sidelined in the national development process. On July 31, Anwar tabled the five-year 13MP, covering the period from 2026 to 2030, providing a strategic framework for Malaysia's economic, social, and environmental priorities. A total of RM611bil is required to ensure the success of 13MP, covering the whole nation, including Sabah and Sarawak.
