Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sabah has recommended three governance improvements to City Hall (DBKK) on the handling of business licence applications using letters of authorisation.
State MACC Director Datuk Mohd Fuad Bee Basrah said the proposals include cross-checking licence applications, particularly those involving authorisation letters, and introducing clear guidelines on suspensions and cancellations.
He said special committees should be set up, such as a Licence Suspension Committee and a Licence Cancellation Committee, to decide cases in an orderly manner.
“Other recommendations involve enforcing verification measures with licence holders on the current status of registered businesses and their activities,” he said during the Governance Improvement Presentation by the MACC Governance Investigation Division (CPT) to DBKK at the Mayor’s meeting room, here, Tuesday.
Fuad said the recommendations stemmed from an initial probe into complaints received last year, which uncovered forged documents used to register companies with DBKK and district offices in Sabah.
“Investigations found weaknesses in the application process, where company owners confirmed they never applied, authorised, or allowed the use of their personal documents for business registration. They were also unaware their names and identity cards had been used for licence applications,” he said.
DBKK Deputy Director-General (Operations) Robert Lipon welcomed the recommendations and agreed to take action to address the shortcomings.
Also present were MACC Sabah Deputy Director (Prevention) Alexander S. Kunghi, MACC Sabah Governance Investigation Branch Head Hamsia Abdul Ham, and State Integrity and Governance Unit representative Andrea Abidin Madingkir.