Kota Kinabalu: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Datuk Chin Su Phin fully supports Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s move to comprehensively restructure Sabah’s government-linked companies (GLCs), saying the step is crucial to restore public confidence and improve service delivery.
Chin said many of Sabah’s government-linked companies (GLCs) had suffered recurring financial losses and operational weaknesses for years, largely due to unsuitable political appointments.
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While acknowledging that political appointments are part of governance, he stressed that such appointments must be made responsibly and based on merit.
“Political appointments themselves are not wrong. The problem arises when appointments are made without assessing a person’s qualifications, capability or commitment to perform. We have seen individuals placed in senior positions with little understanding of the role and no passion to deliver results,” he said in a statement on Monday.
Chin said this culture had undermined the effectiveness of GLCs and hampered Sabah’s economic progress. He added that GLCs must be led by competent professionals who can manage resources responsibly, drive innovation, and generate value for the State.
“This is exactly why some of our GLCs continue to operate at a loss. Weak leadership, limited accountability, and political interference have created a system where performance is secondary,” he said.
He urged the newly elected government to demonstrate that it is serious about reforming public institutions, emphasising that people voted for meaningful change, not a return to old problems.
“With this new mandate, it is crucial that the government shows the public that reforms are real and not merely cosmetic. Whether in GLCs, government agencies or departments, there must be a thorough cleaning up and restructuring,” Chin added.
He described the Chief Minister’s decision to revamp GLC leadership as timely and necessary, saying it would help ensure the agencies are guided by capable teams that can improve competitiveness, attract investments, and develop emerging sectors.
Chin reaffirmed that LDP will continue to support efforts that prioritise good governance and responsible leadership for Sabah.
