Chapter 4: Crossing The Checkpoint
In a race of any significance, there are checkpoints – committed runners use these to take stock, check time, heartrate, have a short reprieve. And they continue the race. The amateurs and week-end joggers get sidetracked by the 100-plus and free bananas, they take selfies and congratulate themselves; forgetting that this is only a milestone in the race and not the finish line.
The passing of the SBO at the Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) is exactly that: a checkpoint, not the finish line. The framework is now in place, but the work is yet to be completed. There are still rules, guidelines, and regulations to be prepared. Many formats are already drafted, yet to be fine-tuned and properly synchronised with the Ordinance. Beyond the documentation, there is also the important task of briefing the users — both professionals and approving authorities — so the law can be implemented clearly and consistently on the ground.
This naturally leads to the uncomfortable question: who should do all this? The ministry? The local councils? Or someone else?
Uncle Philip once said something that stayed with me:
“It is our privilege to be able to work with the Ministry on this. The Sarawak Government is moving ahead — so either you are in, or you are out.”
The reality, however, is more complex. Many of our peers are busy. Some feel this is not their interest. Others ask, “Why me?” I understand that feeling well. I was once a sole proprietor myself — busy finding jobs, managing cash flow, and trying to spend time with family. When you are just trying to survive, anything else can feel distant, heavy, and optional.
But along this journey, I realised something important. We often focus on doing things for ourselves —our own projects, our own practice. When bigger issues arise, many instinctively point to the government. Yet the truth is, the government does not have all the answers. They are also learning, adapting, and trying their best to help the Industry move forward.
That was when it became clear to me that if we, as professionals, believe we can help, then we should. There is nothing more effective than lending our hands directly to the policymakers. You see the impact immediately. You solve problems closer to the root. You help the government help the Profession — including ourselves. So instead of complaining among ourselves during kopitiam (coffee shop) chats, we chose to step forward and help.
Now that we have passed the DUN milestone, we must be ready for what comes next. Many who started this journey have since retired or stepped back. The same challenge faced by the Ministry and Bomba now sits with us — continuity.
As a local professional body, PAMSC has an important responsibility. Not merely to participate, but to take the lead — to guide, to explain, and to keep the momentum. Without continuity, the effort risks losing direction and becoming a burden instead of progress.
What I gained from this journey went far beyond the work done. It was the fellowship, deeper understanding of how policies are shaped, how government works, and how professionals can truly make a difference. It was learning from one another, sharing ideas openly, and seeing the profession from a wider lens.
The race continues. The next stretch is up to us now. Whether we simply join the run and take a selfie for social media, or push ourselves all the way to the finish line, so we can tell ourselves, “well done,” instead of just “job done.”
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