S’wak Ombudsman becomes first institution to become associate member of SEA Ombudsman Forum

Abdul Ghafur (centre) and others at the SEAOF Full Members’ Meeting held in the Philippines in June 2026. Photo: Ukas

By DayakDaily Team

MANILA, Oct 20: The Sarawak Ombudsman has made history as the first institution to be accepted as an associate member of the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF), strengthening Sarawak’s position in regional cooperation on governance, integrity, and public administration accountability.

In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ujas) report, all full members of SEAOF unanimously approved the historic admission during the forum’s Full Members’ Meeting held at Conrad Manila in the Philippines in June.

The achievement reflects regional ombudsman institutions’ confidence in the Sarawak Ombudsman’s commitment to strengthening administrative justice, accountability, and excellence in public service delivery.

The admission ceremony began with a presentation by Sarawak Ombudsman chief Dato Sri Abdul Ghafur Shariff, who outlined the institution’s mandate, strategic direction, and aspirations for expanding regional cooperation.

The official certificate of admission was subsequently presented by Deputy Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines Atty. Jose M. Balmeo Jr., symbolising the recognition of the Sarawak Ombudsman’s membership in SEAOF.

Sarawak Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Dr Juanda Jaya also witnessed the historic ceremony, reflecting the Sarawak government’s continued commitment to strengthening good governance, integrity, transparency, and international cooperation.

The Sarawak Ombudsman’s membership in SEAOF marks a new chapter in the institution’s development, particularly in expanding cooperation networks and sharing expertise with Ombudsman bodies across Southeast Asia.

Through this collaboration, the Sarawak Ombudsman will have opportunities to exchange experiences, learn best practices from long-established ombudsman institutions and contribute to regional discussions on addressing contemporary governance challenges.

Established in 2019, SEAOF serves as a platform for cooperation among Ombudsman institutions in Southeast Asia to improve institutional effectiveness, strengthen administrative justice, and address common public administration challenges.

The forum’s full membership comprises the ombudsman institutions of Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

Sarawak’s participation as the first Associate Member is expected to strengthen collective efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance for the benefit of communities throughout Southeast Asia. — DayakDaily