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HAJIJI’s act against corruption, laggard civil servants and failed GLCs will be fundamental and existential improvements for Sabah.

These three problems are some of the most serious legacy problems Hajiji has inherited.

Due to poor political and economic leadership for many decades, corruption has become endemic, laggard civil servants and failed GLCs have proliferated and been responsible to a large extend, for Sabah’s economic backwardness.

Mindful that Sabah has lagged very far behind economically in the last 40 years, Hajiji has undertaken the onerous task of restructuring Sabah’s economy from 2020 to 2025. A very difficult task. He has succeeded in building the basic economic fundamentals in his first term including having attracted RM58 billion investments.

Having won the 2025 General election and now with a 2/3 majority in the DUN, Hajiji has started 2026 with his SMJ 2.0 for Sabah. Under SMJ 2.0, he has introduced a series of aggressive reforms and "zero-tolerance" policies aimed at overhauling Sabah’s public sector, corporate governance in GLCs and eradication of corruption.

Hajiji will create a New Sabah after he has tackled these 3 very serious problems. Hajiji’s action will produce fundamental and existential improvements for Sabah.

Many civil servants are exemplary and dedicated in serving Sabah. Some GLCs are performing. 

To be fair, these must be stated:

[1] The dedicated, committed civil servants/performing GLCs should be identified and given due recognition. Credit must be given where it is due.

[2] Some dedicated civil servants and officials in GLCs with outstanding performance should be singled out for promotion and be given important responsibility. This will ensure Sabah’s economic well-being.

[3] Elected politicians should leave civil servants to do what they are supposed to do. They should never involve them in any of their political assignment or personal agenda.

Why so important to resolve these 3 problems? Hajiji has the foresight to realise the existential threats of corruption, laggard civil servants and failed GLCs for Sabah.

For Sabah’s best interest, these 3 problems should be resolved ASAP. They are very much inter-related. Not solving them holistically can undermine all that Hajiji has succeeded in the last 5 years.

Sabah’s economic fortune is very much dependent on a corruption free administrative system, efficient civil service and performance orientated GLCs.

Hajiji is 1st CM to tackle corruption, laggard civil servants and failed GLCs 

Hajiji may be soft spoken, can be mistaken as being overly mild. Behind that façade is steel. He has succeeded to regain oil and gas, the first in Sabah’s history.

No other CM has attempted to crack down on corruption. To also take on laggard civil servants and failed GLCs are gigantic tasks. They are profoundly vital for Sabah’s future. Sorting them out will require super-human political will and courage in view of the vastly entrenched vested interests of warlord politicians. 

All true Sabahans should give him the widest support in these game-changing initiatives which will benefit all present and future generations of Sabahans.

Hajiji could have let the present system persist, close his eyes, be comfortable and relax, without having to give himself all the heartaches. Thank God, he has decided to act. Hajiji’s initiatives will fundamentally improve Sabah’s economy. Corruption, laggard civil servants and failed GLCs are interrelated 

Hajiji’s strategy to implement these 3 initiatives is perfect and timing excellent! Sorting out the corruption in the system, improving the work ethnics of civil servants and giving an ultimatum to failed GLCs can profoundly boost the present economic momentum further.

[1] Extensive corruption turns voters against the government.

Corruption is the most common talked about disease among ordinary Sabahans, especially those in the business community who are dependent on securing government approvals for all sort of things. The administrative system is such that ordinary Sabahans must see a government official for very minor thing.

To secure such approvals, often they must literally go down on their knees or pay a runner. Most times, a letter from a YB or an instruction from a superior officer can be ineffectual. What can be done automatically in this computer age can take months or years.

The hidden cost, especially time related cost, of doing business in Sabah is very expensive.

Corruption is the most common reason for Sabahans to turn against the ruling government.

Hajiji’s timing is just perfect! Sabah’s economy has begun perking up in earnest. The increasing economic pace is attracting a parallel/proportionate growth in corruption.

The Chief Commissioner of MACC has categorized Sabah as one of 5 gold mine states cos corruption is flourishing.

https://borneovox.com/news/macc-flagged-sabah-sarawak-goldmine-for-corruption/ 

[2] Laggard civil servants are like seized brakes to economic growth.

Efficient civil servants can speed up the momentum of Hajiji’s efforts to grow the Sabah’s economy very considerably. Most things that Sabahans need official approvals can be done online or can be approved within days. Present system takes months or in many cases, years.

Delays mean income for runners. Who suffer? Ordinary Sabahans. Are they fed up? You bet they are very frustrated.

99% of Singaporeans don’t need to meet a government officer in their life. All can be done on-line. Singapore’s computerized system has wiped out corruption!

It is time that the standard of government service to be pegged to that of the UTC where passports, driving licences can be renewed in hours or online.

Due weightage should be given on the quality of service in assessing the performance of Head of Departments.

[3] Time for Sabah to upgrade the system in civil service and convert it to merit-base. All advanced countries use merit assessments. Here are some good examples: Singapore [its civil service is rated No.1 in the world], UK, Australia, Canada, USA and increasingly, China.

[3] Failed GLCs have wasted billions, valuable assets and economic opportunities cost.

I have written on the problems of Sabah’s GLCs many times. No further comment is necessary.

I must however congratulate Hajiji for his endeavour and political courage to tackle the GLC problems. His revamp is already underway. This is a massive job, very tough but must be done so that Sabah’s economy can grow Economic impacts from clean up corruptions.

Corruption is a Malaysia’s biggest curse. It has permeated from the highest level [an ex-PM is now in jail] to the lowest. 

Thanks to Hajiji for recognizing this serious sickness and has confirmed his policy of ZERO TOLERANCE. Some advantages of his policy are: 

[1] Sabahans will not have to pay runners.

[2] Sabahans will not have to pay corruption money. They will have more money in their pockets, more money to repay their housing loans, more money for their children’s education, more money for their families.

[3] The present extensive underground economy will diminish.

[4] The hidden cost for businessmen will be reduced significantly.

[5] Sabahan and foreign investors will have greater confidence in Sabah.

[6] The economic transformation momentum that Hajiji has started will speed up.

Economic impacts from an efficient civil service.

Hajiji’s “wake up” call for those civil servants who can’t or unwilling to perform to seek redeployment is the first ever by a CM.

The civil servants are the right hand of the elected government. They are the implementors of government policies and decisions. If they don’t work, policies will fail. 

No imagination needed of the huge economic benefits if the civil service can improve up to, say, 50% of the Singapore system or to equivalent of UTC. Everything will move much faster. So will be the economy.

For the ordinary Sabahans, there will be no more merry go round, chasing YBs for letters and no runners to pay.

Most importantly, this will galvanize Sabahans and foreign investors. There will be more investments and new industries.

An efficient civil service will do these:

[1] Reduce or eliminate red taps.

[2] Elimination of wasteful of waiting time and results of requests from ordinary Sabahans.

[3] Online service will reduce travelling for Sabahans.

[4] Reduce/eliminate hidden cost and expensive waiting time. Greatest-no NAPLEONS.

Economic impacts from transformation of GLCs.

GLCs have lost billions. Hajiji’s revamp will produce the following results:

[1] Stop perennial losses incurred by failed GLCs and elimination of political warlords.

[2] Profits by well managed GLCs will contribute to state revenue and eventually to the Sabah Sovereign Fund. Quite easy for the GLCs to generate profit between RM500 million to RM1 billion for the Sabah Government.

[3] Well managed GLCs can have capacity to undertake projects beneficial for Sabah.

[4] Well managed GLCs can JV with Sabahan investors.

[5] Well managed GLCs can pioneer new industries.

When Hajiji has completed these 3 very difficult transformations, together with his on-going economic restructure, he would have created a totally NEW SABAH to benefit all Sabahans.

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my