By Daniel John Jambun, President, Change Advocate Movement ohif Sabah (CAMOS)
KOTA KINABALU: The Change Advocate Movement of Sabah (CAMOS) views with caution and deep concern the recent directive by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor requiring all GLC and statutory body heads to submit performance reports every three months or face reassignment or termination.
While monitoring is important, this approach fails to address the real and longstanding causes of institutional underperformance in Sabah’s government-linked companies.
For decades, Sabah’s GLC failures have been rooted not in the absence of reports, but in the weak governance culture created by political appointments, patronage networks, and leadership chosen based on loyalty rather than competence.
Unless these structural issues are corrected, quarterly reporting risks becoming just another layer of paperwork that does little to restore efficiency, professionalism or integrity.
If the Chief Minister is genuinely serious about reform, CAMOS urges the government to adopt the following fundamental changes:
Merit-Based Appointments, Not Cronyism
Leadership of GLCs must be entrusted to the best of the brightest — individuals with proven corporate experience, relevant expertise, and strong ethical standards.
As long as positions continue to be filled by relatives, friends, political supporters and cronies, Sabah’s GLCs will remain trapped in a cycle of inefficiency and collapse.
Transparent and Professional Selection Processes
Key posts in GLCs should be publicly advertised, independently assessed, and awarded based on clear competency criteria. Sabahans deserve confidence that GLCs are not being treated as political rewards or retirement postings.
Independent and Competent Boards
Effective governance requires boards composed of professionals with sector-specific knowledge, not political appointees whose loyalties lie elsewhere.
Outcome-Based KPIs, Not Cosmetic Reporting
KPIs must measure real results — financial sustainability, operational improvements, service delivery, and long-term impact — not superficial summaries designed merely to satisfy reporting requirements.
Accountability Must Start at the Top
If a GLC head underperforms, responsibility does not fall on that individual alone. The appointing authority must also be accountable for placing unsuitable leaders in critical positions.
Sabahans are tired of watching GLC after GLC fail due to mismanagement, patronage, and lack of professionalism. Quarterly reports will not fix systemic weaknesses unless the government simultaneously ends political interference and reforms the appointment culture that has long undermined good governance in Sabah.
CAMOS urges the Chief Minister to demonstrate true commitment to reform by prioritising integrity, capability, and transparency, rather than maintaining the status quo of politically motivated appointments.
Only through genuine structural change can Sabah’s GLCs become effective, accountable and sustainable institutions that contribute meaningfully to the state’s progress.
