KOTA KINABALU: In a statement on Friday (Nov 10), Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin emphasizes the need for a change in the way members of the board of directors of state government-linked companies (GLCs) are appointed in Sabah. He criticizes the current system, stating that it prioritizes quotas over merit, resulting in state GLCs not being profitable.
Bung Moktar emphasizes the importance of changing the appointments to be based on business demands, merit, and experience rather than party quotas. He believes this change is necessary to ensure that state GLCs are more competitive, well-managed, and focused on generating profits from their business ventures. The Kinabatangan MP also alleges that certain GLCs, although not specified, have directors who are family members and cronies of political figures, receiving high salaries and allowances despite the GLCs’ losses.
State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun also commented on the issue on Thursday (Nov 9), stating that most of the GLCs in Sabah were operating at a loss, warning that it was the duty of all GLCs to make money for the government or face termination.
Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri) president Datuk Henrynus Amin echoes Bung Moktar’s sentiments, urging the Sabah government to appoint professional managers in state GLCs and minimize political appointees. He also calls for an investigation into the alleged use of state GLCs as private companies by unscrupulous politicians to benefit their cronies and family members, stating that there were concerns that state GLCs were being run as if they were family companies.
“Anak Negeri wants all alleged irregularities and nepotism within the non-performing state GLCs to be investigated,” he added, urging Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to take action on his warning to revamp all non-performing GLCs issued in April.
