Sabah GLCs likely to be downsized
Shafie: Move to reduce wastage of state funds and maximise profits
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s government linked-companies may be downsized to reduce wastage of state funds and in the effort to maximise profits, said Chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The civil service will also be restructured, he added.
“We are facing an unhealthy economy and we want to change this, so the first thing we can do is to reduce excess expenditures,” he said during a meeting with over a thousand civil servants at the state administration building here yesterday.
He said restructuring of the civil service among others would be done accordingly.
In this respect, Shafie urged all civil servants to work together with the new government to bring positive developments and changes to the country.
“The government can have great policies and ideas but it cannot be implemented or executed to the best without the full support from all of you,” he said.
He said Sabah being a resource-rich state, should be able to allow its people to enjoy the wealth well, or at least live comfortably.
“But no, we still have so many who are living in poverty, where they lack so many things, even basic facilities including roads and we as the new government, want to see this change,” he said.
Shafie said apart from the economy, the new state government would also focus on improving healthcare, education, and security among others.
“We also do not wish to see fights revolving around religious issues because in Sabah, we live in harmony for the state to flourish,” he added.
On matters of the timber export ban, he said the concessionaires flouting laws including environmental regulations will be identified soon.
Shafie also said that various discussions are being held with stakeholders including the Japan consul, urging them to set up factories in Sabah so that raw materials such as timber and palm oil can be processed here.