DBKK and Integrity Department

 

Here is something I learned recently. Lembaga Jurukur Sabah is not under the jurisdiction of the Sabah Integrity Department. Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK), despite not being classified as civil servants, is under the jurisdiction of the Sabah Integrity Department. The following is what I dug up from the internet and would like to share with my readers. As I have mentioned several times before: Huo dao lao xue dao lao which when translated means 'One is never too old to learn'.  

While DBKK employees are not classified as federal or state civil servants, they are public sector employees working for a statutory body established by the state government.

As employees of a local authority, DBKK staff are still subject to oversight mechanisms that ensure accountability, transparency, and integrity in public administration, even if they are not formally civil servants. This is because DBKK is funded by public resources and performs public functions, making its employees accountable to public sector governance standards.

The Sabah Integrity Department, often linked to or operating under the purview of agencies like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or state-level integrity units, is tasked with promoting integrity and combating corruption across public sector entities in Sabah. This includes local authorities like DBKK, which fall under the state's jurisdiction.

Integrity departments typically have authority over any organization or individual involved in public administration or handling public funds, regardless of their formal classification as civil servants. This is because their mandate extends to ensuring good governance and addressing issues like corruption, maladministration, or breaches of integrity in public institutions.

DBKK is established and regulated by the Sabah State Government, and its mayor and councillors are appointed by the state. This places DBKK within the state's administrative framework, subjecting it to oversight by state-level bodies, including the Integrity Department.

Laws such as the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (federal) or state-specific regulations may empower the Integrity Department to investigate complaints involving local authority employees, particularly for issues like corruption, abuse of power, or maladministration.

When issues escalate beyond DBKK’s internal mechanisms—such as unresolved complaints or allegations of systemic misconduct—external bodies like the Sabah Integrity Department may step in.

Even though DBKK employees are not civil servants, they are part of the broader public sector. The Sabah Integrity Department’s jurisdiction extends to public sector entities to ensure accountability, especially in cases involving public complaints, mismanagement, or potential corruption.