KUCHING: Innovation in the public service must translate into action that delivers tangible impact and benefits to the people, rather than merely generating ideas or completing projects.

Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said this is crucial to ensure every effort undertaken by the government delivers outcomes that can genuinely be felt by the people.

According to him, the public does not see the internal processes of a department, but instead assesses its services based on waiting times, the accuracy of decisions, clarity of responses and the quality of service received.

“The people do not see the process. They do not know the process, whether it goes from A to B to C to D and so on.

“What they see are the waiting times, the responses, the accuracy of decisions, the clarity of the answers and how the service is delivered.

“We cannot expect the people to understand that the process has to go through A, B, C, D and so on. What they want are answers. They want explanations,” he said.

He said this in his address at the Land and Survey Department Sarawak Innovation and Integrity Day (HIITS) 2026, themed ‘Innovating with Integrity, Delivering with Impact’, at a hotel here on Tuesday.

Therefore, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar reminded the personnel of Land and Survey Department to reassess the outcomes of every project and programme undertaken, including whether they genuinely make a difference to the people.

He said changing public expectations also require the public service to continuously adapt its service delivery to meet current needs.

He added that advances in the digital world and artificial intelligence (AI) have also transformed how people access information and express their views.

In the context of the Land and Survey Department, he said land management must be efficient, transparent and carried out with integrity to support the implementation of strategic projects and ensure the benefits of development reach the people.

At the same event, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar presented Excellent Service Awards (APC) to 233 recipients, represented by individuals from each grade, as well as prizes to the winners of the Integrity Campaign Video competition, won by Land and Survey Kapit Divisional Office, and the Best Integrity Corner, won by Land and Survey Sibu Divisional Office.

In the HIITS IdeaX Challenge 2026, Invictus Point from the Land and Survey Sibu Divisional Office emerged champion with its idea, ‘Prismate: Prism Improvements to Enhance Efficiency & Consistency of Survey Works’.

Also present were Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Sarawak Datu Abdullah Julaihi, Director of Lands and Surveys Sarawak Datu Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood, Director of Forests Sarawak Datu Hamden Mohammad, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) General Manager Datu Zainal Abidin Abdullah, Sarawak Transformation and Innovation Unit (STIU) Director Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman, Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNIONS) Director Wan Mohamad Wan Drahman and heads of departments. -UKASnews

Prepared By: Nur Nabilla
Photo: Ameerul Syafiq Khir
Translator: Nerissa Sia