Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s government-linked companies (GLCs) have been urged to return to their core mandate, with Deputy Chief Minister II cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun warning that systemic weaknesses are undermining delivery and impact on the rakyat.
He said GLCs should not be viewed purely as profit-driven entities, but as strategic instruments to drive economic growth, ensure fair distribution of wealth and support the Government’s social agenda.
“GLCs must act as catalysts in key sectors while ensuring development benefits are shared across all levels of society,” he said.
He emphasised that development must be inclusive and not concentrated in specific areas, but reach communities across Sabah.
Masidi acknowledged that several weaknesses persist within the GLC ecosystem, including deviation from original mandates and inefficiencies in implementation.
“Some entities have become overly focused on profit without delivering sufficient social impact, while others have yet to achieve the expected level of performance,” he said.
He also highlighted structural issues such as silo-based operations, lack of collaboration and duplication of efforts among agencies.
“This weakens synergy and reduces the overall effectiveness of the system,” he said during the High Tea Programme of the Sabah Chief Executives Council (Makes), here, Tuesday.
Masidi said success should not be measured solely by output, but by the real impact felt by the public.
He said Makes will serve as a strategic platform to coordinate GLCs and state agencies under a unified direction.
“The platform will strengthen collaboration, align policies and encourage resource sharing to improve overall delivery.” Among key priorities outlined were generating new revenue sources, creating quality job opportunities and accelerating digital transformation and innovation.
Masidi underscored that stronger governance, transparency and accountability are essential to ensure GLCs operate effectively and maintain public trust, adding that all initiatives must ultimately deliver tangible benefits to the people.