KUCHING: Every organisation must be vigilant against the presence of “Little Napoleons” and “Little Rasputins,” as they can damage the reputation and integrity of their departments, says Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya.
Therefore, the Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) urged all department heads to supervise and ensure that all established rules and procedures are consistently followed by their subordinates.
“Don’t let top management decide to make changes, but the lower levels fail to implement them. As a result, no real change happens. Instead, complaints arise from the public.
“So far, the presence of ‘Little Napoleons’ and ‘Little Rasputins’ in Sarawak is not at a serious level, but we must take precautionary steps.”
Juanda said this when met after officiating the International Anti-Corruption Day (HARA) Sarawak State-Level 2025 Celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Friday (Nov 7).
Commenting on the two terms he used, he referred to frequent complaints received regarding the rejection of public applications.
“Don’t reject citizens’ applications outright just because of incomplete information. Instead, assist and inform them of the reasons for the rejection.
“Proper record-keeping and feedback to the public are very important, as they reflect the image of the department concerned.”
Juanda also advised department heads not to delegate full authority to their subordinates (at the implementation level).
“This is not about belittling those in lower positions but rather self-reflection.
“Those who hold positions should respect the authority of their department’s leadership and uphold the trust placed in them by their superiors.
“Therefore, the trust and responsibility given must be carried out with integrity and commitment, not by carelessly passing the work to others.”
