Use development allocation, reduce bureaucracy — Minister

KOTA KINABALU: Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib urged all agencies and departments under his ministry to ensure that development allocation from the federal government is utilized accordingly.

”I urge all the agencies and departments in Sabah to give full support and cooperation so that the development projects can be implemented as soon as possible.

“If the allocation is not utilized, it will be revoked and when that happens, we will face problems reapplying for it. We also want to see bureaucracy in state agencies like the Water Department, the Land and Survey Department reduced,” he said.

James when met by reporters after delivering his annual address to personnel of the ministry, departments and agencies under it, stressed that development for the rakyat must be prioritised.

He cited for example the failure of the government to construct a clinic or hospital in the state, it would result in the rakyat suffering.

“This is also the mistake of our leaders who take things too easy. I am warning the officers (under my ministry) who do not give their cooperation (in the matter of infrastructure development), I will bring their names to the State Cabinet and ask that they be transferred from their current post(s),” he said.

James who is also the state’s Health Exco said he wants to see the 23 clinics and hospitals that were planned since 2009 but not implemented until now, be constructed and completed.

The delay was caused by several issues including the non-issuance of the land title, he said, adding that there is now light at the end of the tunnel as the land issue is being solved one by one.

“This year I want to see more issues resolved like the land issue in Langkon as it caused a 10-year delay to the construction of the clinic there. Then there is the issue of the clinic in Kampung Mensiat in Sook, we were unable to rebuild the clinic there because the land title for the land was never issued.

”How can this happen, there has been a clinic there since the 1970s, the application for the land was made since the 70s but until today, the land title has not been approved.

“This is just one of the issues we are facing with the delay in constructing clinics throughout the state. In the case of the Klinik Kesihatan Penampang, the project has yet to commence because the Penampang District Council did not approve the development plan.

“They should have informed the state Health Department and Health Ministry that the development plan was not approved.

“How can Sabah progress if this is the attitude of certain civil servants? We must change our attitude and mindset. We cannot blame the Chief Minister who has been very strict in administering the state. He has warned ministers and HODs and reminded them to work for the rakyat in Sabah,” James lamented.

James also urged the Health Ministry not to transfer nurses from Sabah to other states.

“I have informed the Prime Minister that nurses who have confirmed their posts in Sabah need to be retained here as we are also facing a shortage of nurses.

“It is impossible that there are no vacancies for nurses in Sabah,” he said.