On 24 and 25 April 2025, newly graduated Certified Integrity Officers (CEIOs) from Sarawak convened at the Grand Millennium Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, for a workshop titled "The Role of Risk Assessment for Enhancing Integrity in Public Sector Governance." This event, organized by Transparency International Malaysia, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Integrity and Ombudsman Unit Sarawak (UNIONS), provided a comprehensive platform to deepen understanding of risk assessment's role in promoting ethical behaviour, examine challenges in implementing effective strategies for compliance, and propose a robust risk-based integrity monitoring framework for public sector agencies.
We were privileged to welcome esteemed speakers, including Ms Sandeep Judge, Head of Bilateral Diplomacy at the British High Commission Kuala Lumpur, who delivered a compelling keynote address. Mr Raymon Ram,President of Transparency International Malaysia provided welcoming remarks, followed by opening speeches from Mr Erik van der Veen, UNODC Representative to ASEAN and Head of Programme Office Indonesia, and Tuan Wan Mohamad bin Wan Drahman, Director of the Integrity and Ombudsman Unit, Office of the Premier of Sarawak, setting an insightful tone for the discussions ahead.
The first day's sessions were led by Ms Nurirdzuana Ismail, Secretary-General of Transparency International Malaysia, who provided a thought-provoking presentation on Ethics and Compliance Culture in Organizations. Following this, Mr Raymon Ram, conducted an engaging session on Corruption Risk Assessment. Both sessions were further enriched by interactive group activities that encouraged active participation and collaboration.
The second day featured a highly engaging panel discussion, "The Challenges of a CEIO: Facing Obstacles in the Pursuit of Integrity," moderated by Mr Justin Jarret. The discussion brought together distinguished panellists, including Mr Nik Azmir Nik Anis, Group Chief Compliance Officer & Group Chief Integrity & Governance Officer at Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, Ms Chuah Yean Ping, Certified Integrity Officer, and Ms Nurirdzuana Ismail, Secretary-General of Transparency International Malaysia, who shared invaluable insights on the complexities of maintaining ethical standards and overcoming challenges in integrity governance.
As we celebrate our newly graduated CEIOs, we wish for their success in upholding integrity practices and culture within their respective organizations in Sarawak. The valuable insights gained from this workshop and lessons from real-world experiences shared during panel discussions will empower them to become exemplary integrity officers. Their commitment to ethical governance will undoubtedly strengthen transparency and accountability across the public sector.