Sabah CM to downsize GLCs that don’t perform

KOTA KINABALU: At least three major Sabah government-linked companies (GLCs) have diverted from their original intentions, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

“I am taking steps to get them back on track,” he said.

The three are the Sabah Land Development Board, Yayasan Sabah and Sawit Kinabalu, which were meant to pour profits back into aid for education, health, spurring rural economies and helping the poor.

Mohd Shafie said these entities were given large tracts of land and timber concessions to carry out business.

“Today, they have more or less diverted from their original intentions,” he said when opening a dialogue on the role of the government in the economy (especially the GLCs) organised by the Institute of Development Studies yesterday.

Shafie added that the state was looking to downsize or close nonperforming GLCs.

“The priority is for each GLC to serve its purposes. Sadly, some GLCs have lost focus. The state government is trying to right the wrongs.

“Changes cannot take place in the blink of an eye. We’re in the process of changing and it will make GLCs more transparent,” said Shafie, adding that the many casus of corruption and abuse of power reported nationwide in GLCs should be a lesson for all.