KUCHING: Sarawak’s public financial system must integrate sustainability considerations into planning, budgeting, and reporting to realise the state’s vision of green and inclusive development.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said this aligns with the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint launched in October 2024, which outlines 10 strategic pillars, including energy transition, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, green mobility, and ecotourism.
He said the state must also adopt green budgeting, sustainable procurement, and measure the impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.
He added the newly enacted Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023 provides the legal foundation for this transformation, ensuring prudence, transparency, and long-term resilience.
“Every ringgit spent must generate long-term impact. In Sarawak, our Green Economy Policy is aligned with global climate commitments.”
“We are moving towards Green budgeting and sustainable procurement, investments in renewable energy and biodiversity conservation, and measuring carbon and environmental assets as part of our fiscal outlook,” he said in his keynote address during the Public Sector Financial Transformation Conference at a hotel here today (Aug 6).
Abang Johari said financial transformation is not the job of accountants alone but requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
“We cannot talk about financial transformation without reforming the way we govern and deliver value,” he said.
Following this, he said the state government is investing in digitalisation of procurement, budgeting, and payment systems; data-driven decision-making through Sarawak ID and digital government platforms; capacity-building of public servants in financial literacy, ESG principles, and digital tools; and promoting transparency through audit reforms and open data initiatives.
“Financial transformation is not just an accounting exercise—it is about building trust, credibility, and citizen confidence in public institutions.
“I urge all ministries, departments, agencies, statutory bodies and government-linked companies (GLCs) to embed performance and outcomes into every budget, embrace digital tools to enhance transparency and efficiency, invest in talent development and capacity-building, and champion accountability as a shared responsibility,” he said.
The Public Sector Financial Transformation Conference was jointly organised by the Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE), Sarawak Treasury Department, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (ICDM), and Salihin Academy.
