Awang Tengah (6th from left) handing over the prize trophy to the winning group

KUCHING: Public sector agencies must embrace innovation and creativity as part of their organisational culture to effectively respond to challenges brought about by digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and growing public expectations for better services, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

He said government agencies today are operating in an increasingly complex environment marked by economic uncertainties, rapid technological advancements and rising demands from the public for services that are more efficient, transparent and responsive.

“Innovation and creativity must become an important part of our work culture.

“This culture should be embedded in every organisation so that we are better prepared to adapt and respond efficiently to challenges while continuously improving service delivery,” he said.

He said this during the closing ceremony of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development’s (MUDENR) Creative and Innovative Group (KIK) Convention 2026 at the Imperial Hotel here on Thursday (Jun 11).

Awang Tengah said the convention serves as an important platform for strengthening innovation and creativity within the public service in line with the government’s aspiration to improve productivity, enhance service delivery and build the competency of civil servants.

He noted that innovation initiatives not only generate new ideas and solutions but also foster teamwork, self-confidence and greater participation among employees at all levels of an organisation.

“If this culture exists in every organisation, we will be able to carry out our responsibilities more effectively while taking into account the interests and needs of the people,” he said.

The Deputy Premier also stressed the need for government agencies to continuously review and improve regulations, policies and administrative procedures to ensure they remain relevant amid evolving technological and societal changes.

He said challenges faced today can no longer be addressed solely through conventional approaches, adding that outdated regulations and circulars must be reviewed and refined to keep pace with current developments.

“Good governance must be strengthened so that every resource can be planned and managed optimally. The resources entrusted to us are a public trust and belong to the people,” he said.

Awang Tengah added that efficient management of financial resources, government assets, equipment and office facilities can help reduce costs, generate added economic value and enable the implementation of more development programmes for the benefit of the rakyat.

Awang Tengah expressed confidence that the innovations generated through the convention would continue to enhance public service delivery while supporting Sarawak’s development agenda under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

He also encouraged public servants to remain open-minded and unafraid to share ideas, noting that some of the best innovations often begin as ideas that may initially seem unconventional.

“Challenges should not be viewed as obstacles but as catalysts for generating creative solutions and more effective ways of serving the people,” he said.