Sabah shakes up GLCs

Services of ‘political appointees’ to be terminated

KOTA KINABALU: Just after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the Parti Warisan Sabah-led state government has started work to clean the bench of political appointees sitting in government-linked companies (GLCs).

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the shake-up in GLC leadership and state administration is underway.

“Just wait. It will take a bit of time for the changes to take place. There is (a list of names), just wait,” he told reporters after the Sepanggar constituency open house here yesterday.

It is believed that the reshuffling will involve the positions of senior officers, directors and managing directors.

The reshuffling exercise in Sabah is part of Shafie’s election pledge and is a nod to Warisan ally Pakatan Harapan’s move in removing political appointees from GLCs in the peninsula.

On Friday, The Star reported that more than 100 politically-appointed top officials of GLCs were expected to be booted out in the coming weeks.

Separately, in a move seen to further liberalise Sabah’s real estate sector, Shafie said approval for property development in Sabah would be centralised under a special committee and would not involve the Chief Minister.

“There will be a new committee to reduce red tape and expedite the process,” he said, adding it would encourage more investments in Sabah’s property sector.

Earlier in his speech, Shafie who is also state Finance Minister, said he was due to meet with several big investors.

For instance, Shafie said in his recent courtesy call on the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, he said Sabah welcomed investments from the sultanate.

“We want investments not only from China but also from neighbouring countries like Singapore and Brunei.

“We are confident that we can heal the state economy and increase job opportunities,” he said.