KUCHING: Integrity must be cultivated from childhood, beginning in the home before being strengthened through schools and practised within the wider community.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said efforts to promote integrity should not be confined to government organisations or the civil service because the value must become part of everyday life across society.
“The cultivation of integrity must begin at home because the family provides the first foundation in shaping a person’s values and character,” he said.
He said this when officiating at the Sarawak Integrity Day 2026 celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.
Abang Johari said values such as honesty, trustworthiness, discipline and responsibility should be instilled through education and examples demonstrated in daily life.
He also said these values which are introduced at home must subsequently be reinforced through education.
“Schools are not merely places for students to acquire academic knowledge but they also play an important role in shaping students’ character, identity and ability to make sound decisions based on strong values,” he said.
In this regard, Abang Johari expressed support for the establishment of the Kelab Rakan Integriti Sekolah (KRIS) by the Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNIONS).
He said the development of the KRIS module represented an important step towards introducing integrity values to the younger generation in a more organised and structured manner.
“Through this approach, we want to produce Sarawakian children who are not only knowledgeable and skilled, but who also have principles, practise ethical conduct, and take responsibility for their actions,” he said.
He also commended UNIONS and the Sarawak Education Department for implementing the initiative.
Abang Johari said integrity education had also been extended to institutions of higher learning through the Premier of Sarawak Integrity Debate Cup.
The competition was organised by UNIONS in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) on August 10 and 11.
He congratulated the winners and participants and expressed hope that the debate competition would continue in the future.
At the community level, Abang Johari said community leaders and village chiefs were closest to the people and therefore had an important role in promoting trustworthiness, transparency and responsibility in community administration.
He said the Community Leadership Integrity Module was being implemented to equip grassroots leaders with knowledge relating to integrity, governance and the proper management of responsibilities entrusted to them.
“This would enable them to perform their duties more effectively while setting a good example for their respective communities. We want integrity to become a culture that begins at home, is strengthened in schools and is practised in the community.
“When integrity becomes part of the people’s daily lives, Sarawak would not only build a better administration but also develop a principled society capable of supporting the state’s sustainable prosperity,” he added.
