Govt depts, agencies revamp
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah state government will implement administrative restructuring in government departments and agencies, including governmentlinked companies (GLC) to enhance effectiveness of the public delivery system.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the restructuring was necessary to reduce wastage and leakage of government funds and resources as well as fulfilling the aspirations of Sabahans who elected the new government in the last general election.
“We will see, if there is an overlap and a need to trim an agency, we will do so. For example several GLCs have too many subsidiaries, we will merge. What matters to us is coordination in terms of services,” he said.
Shafie, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, said this after attending a meeting with about 1,000 senior officers and heads of state and federal departments at the Sabah state government administrative centre here yesterday.
However, he said the restructuring and changes that needed to be undertaken under the new government led by Parti Warisan Sabah could take some time to make them work.
Earlier in his speech, he wanted all state and federal civil servants to give total commitment to ensure the success of new government policies being implemented to meet the people’s aspirations.
“Every civil servant should not only be aware but also understand all government policies to ensure the delivery system is in line with the needs of the people as a whole,” he added.
The Chief Minister also said strategic placement of available security forces is a form of deterrent that could eliminate kidnappings and Sabah’s East Coast dawn-to-dusk curfew.
“If you look at the facilities that are available, the strength that is available at Lok Kawi if the camp is at the border, we might be able to give a long-lasting guarantee that kidnappings will not happen. It’s a form of deterrence,” he said.
“If there are a lot of patrols there, if there are a lot of strong teams there, it will be seen that these areas cannot be easily bypassed.
“From Kudat to Tawau, it is a very huge area to cover but in terms of facility that we have in places, it is not impossible for us to do it if the Sungai Besi camp can be moved to Seremban,” he added.
Shafie said to install the facilities needed which are currently missing in areas that demand for increased security coverage will take time as it calls for mutual agreement between the federal and state governments.
“This is to enable us to streamline existing asset facilities that are limited and utilized where needed,” he explained.
“Yes, we know maybe in peaceful times, they will still be needed there. I understand, the police team can take care within the country but there will also be a team at the borderline level, there will also be a team too,” said the Chief Minister.
Shafie said safety is an important aspect of Sabah’s booming tourism industry that continues to contribute to the state’s revenue.
“We need to nurture, we need to take care and fertilize this sector. One of the tourists’ worries does not include expensive goods or insufficient fish. The fish is enough and not about enough goods or where to stay.
“Still revolving in the minds of international tourists is the worry if there is a note that says there is still a curfew in these areas and also fear.
“Certainly the embassies also will look at why there is a curfew. If it is safe, why is there a curfew. So these are the things that we need to address,” he added.
Recently, the Chief Minister expressed plans to relocate army bases in Sabah to the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) areas.
He said a comprehensive study will first be carried out to see if the move is practical.
The ESSZone is comprised of Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.