Dr Sim (centre), alongside Loh (second left), Wee (second right) and others, hold the handbooks during the launch at the awards ceremony.

Three comprehensive handbooks were recently unveiled to bolster governance and enhance service delivery within local authorities at the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) Awards Ceremony 2025.

These handbooks encompass the ‘Guidelines for Quality Grass Cutting’, ‘Guidelines for Fibre to the Drain (FTTD) Installation’, and ‘Guidelines for Effective Road and Drain Cleaning’.

Enhancing Standards and Accountability

The permanent secretary of MPHLG, Datu Elizabeth Loh, emphasized that these handbooks aim to establish clearer standards, enhance accountability, and improve service delivery across all councils.

“The FTTD Guidelines provide safe and systematic procedures for fibre installation through drainage systems, ensuring the protection of drainage assets while supporting Sarawak’s regulated digital infrastructure development,” she stated.

Additionally, the Quality Grass Cutting Guidelines ensure uniform standards, safety, and consistent maintenance of urban landscapes. The Road and Drain Cleaning Guidelines are designed to enhance cleanliness, mitigate risks such as flash floods, and improve monitoring mechanisms,” she added.

Commitment to Continuous Improvement

All three handbooks are rooted in the Sarawak Civil Service (SCS) 3R principles — Revisit, Rethink, and Recharge — promoting continuous improvement, modernization of practices, and a renewed commitment to effective public service.

Loh also highlighted the ministry and council’s achievements this year, including the Anugerah Kualiti Perkhidmatan Awam Sarawak (Akpans) and Sarawak’s Overall Sustainable Status under the Malaysian Urban-Rural National Indicators Network for Sustainable Development (MURNInets) rating, alongside Gold and Merit awards at the 11th Premier Sarawak Environmental Awards.

These accolades reflect a strong dedication to customer engagement, digital readiness, and service accessibility. The state government continues to focus on results through Outcome-Based Budgeting (OBB) and the new Result-Based Budgeting (RBB) framework to enhance organizational performance, financial accountability, and integrity.

Future Initiatives and Recognitions

Preparations are underway to implement accrual accounting for local authorities next year, aiming to improve transparency, financial reporting, and decision-making capabilities.

A total of 369 recipients were honored with the Outstanding Staff Achievement Award (APC) 2024 and the Sustainable, Measurable, Achievable, Responsible, and Transformational (SMART) Community Award during the ceremony.

The handbooks were officially launched by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, with Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng also present at the event.

The post Sarawak ministry launches three handbooks to streamline local council services appeared first on Borneo Post Online.

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