BY ELVINA TING and FASIHA KHUSHIRI
KUCHING: Sarawak is strengthening the management of its public facilities through a more strategic approach that leverages private sector expertise.
It is aimed at ensuring public assets are managed efficiently, sustainably and continue delivering long-term value to the people.
State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said facility management is no longer solely about constructing new infrastructure, but also about ensuring public assets are properly maintained and managed throughout their lifecycle.
He said as the state’s economy expands and infrastructure networks become larger and more complex, the conventional model of the government directly managing every asset may no longer be the most effective approach.
“We need a more strategic model where the government focuses on governance, regulation, policy direction and performance monitoring, while harnessing the strengths of the private sector in service delivery,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the 5th Asian Facility Management Conference at Raia Hotel and
Convention Centre Kuching on Monday (June29).
Mohamad Abu Bakar said public-private partnership (PPP) models are increasingly being adopted worldwide, with governments serving as asset owners and regulators while private companies provide specialised services under clearly defined standards and accountability.
He noted that Sarawak has already embraced the approach in several areas, including solid waste collection, where private operators deliver services under government oversight.
“The government continues to set service standards, monitor performance and ensure accountability, while private operators contribute their expertise, technology and operational efficiency. We should now build on this success and progressively extend the same principles to other areas of public asset management,” he said.
He added that the transformation would enable the public service to become more efficient, allowing civil servants to focus on strategic planning, policy implementation and performance monitoring instead of day-to-day operational responsibilities.
Mohamad Abu Bakar also stressed the need for civil servants to strengthen their capabilities in asset management, procurement, contract administration and data-driven decision-making, while encouraging the private sector to adopt advanced technologies, automation and innovation to enhance facility management.
Also present were Malaysian Association of Facility Management president Dato’ Sri Zohari Akob, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development Datu Chiew Chee Yau, and Public Works Department director Datu Ir. Dr Cassidy Morris.
