KUCHING: The Sarawak Ombudsman has achieved a historic milestone after being unanimously accepted as the first associate member of the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF), marking a significant step in the institution’s regional and international engagement.
The admission was formalised during the SEAOF Full Members’ Meeting held at Conrad Manila, Philippines, on Tuesday (June 16).
The acceptance reflects the confidence of SEAOF member institutions in the Sarawak Ombudsman’s commitment to advancing administrative justice, accountability and excellence in public service.
During the ceremony, Sarawak Chief Ombudsman, Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafur Shariff, presented the institution’s mandate, strategic direction and aspirations for deeper regional cooperation.
“The admission marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Sarawak Ombudsman’s institutional development and international engagement,” the institution said in a statement.
The Certificate of Acceptance was presented by Atty Jose M. Balmeo Jr, Deputy Ombudsman of the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines, officially welcoming the Sarawak Ombudsman into the SEAOF community.
Witnessing the ceremony was Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman), Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya, whose presence highlighted the state government’s commitment to promoting good governance, integrity, accountability, transparency and international collaboration.
Established in 2019, SEAOF serves as a platform for Ombudsman institutions in Southeast Asia to strengthen cooperation, enhance institutional effectiveness, exchange best practices, and address common challenges in public administration and administrative justice.
Its current full members comprise the Office of the Ombudsman of Indonesia, the Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines, the Office of the Ombudsman of Thailand, and the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste.
According to the statement, membership in SEAOF will provide the Sarawak Ombudsman with broader opportunities to exchange experiences, learn from established Ombudsman bodies, and contribute to regional discussions on emerging governance issues.
“The collaboration is expected to strengthen collective efforts to promote transparency, accountability and good governance for the benefit of communities across Southeast Asia,” it said.
