Left to right: Mr. Sujin Chaichumsak, Ombudsman (Office of the Ombudsman Thailand), Mr. Rahmadi Indra Tektona, Vice Chairman (Office of the Ombudsman, Indonesia), Dato Sri Abdul Ghafur Shariff, Chief Ombudsman (Office of the Sarawak Ombudsman), Atty. Jose M. Balmeo. Jr., Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Officer (MOLE)) and Acting Chair SEAOF (Office of the Ombudsman Philippines), Mr. Rigoberto Monteiro, Deputy Ombudsman for Good Governance (Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice, Timor-Leste)



Manila, Philippines
16 June 2026


The Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF), established in 2019 to strengthen cooperation among Ombudsman institutions in Southeast Asia, continues to serve as a vital platform for enhancing institutional effectiveness, exchanging best practices, and addressing shared challenges in public administration and administrative justice.
 
Its current members comprise the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines, the Office of the Ombudsman of Thailand, and the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights and Justice of Timor-Leste.
 
A historic milestone was achieved on 16 June 2026 during the SEAOF Full Members’ Meeting held at Conrad Manila, when the Sarawak Ombudsman was formally and unanimously accepted as SEAOF’s first Associate Member. This landmark admission reflects the confidence of SEAOF member institutions in the Sarawak Ombudsman’s commitment to advancing administrative justice, accountability, and excellence in public service.
 
The acceptance ceremony began with a presentation by the Chief Ombudsman of Sarawak, YBhg. Dato Sri Abdul Ghafur Shariff, who outlined the institution’s mandate, strategic direction, and aspirations for deeper regional cooperation.
 
The Certificate of Acceptance was then presented by Atty. Jose M. Balmeo Jr., Deputy Ombudsman of the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of the Philippines, signifying Sarawak’s official admission into the SEAOF community.
 
The ceremony was witnessed by YB Datuk Dr. Juanda Jaya, the Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman), underscoring the Sarawak Government’s strong commitment to promoting good governance, integrity, accountability, transparency and international collaboration.
 
The Sarawak Ombudsman’s entry into SEAOF marks the beginning of a new chapter in its institutional development and international engagement. Through this partnership, the institution will gain expanded opportunities to exchange experiences, learn from established Ombudsman bodies, and contribute to regional dialogue on emerging governance challenges. This collaboration is expected to strengthen collective efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance for the benefit of communities across Southeast Asia.