Transparency - YB Datuk Hajiji Noor

 

Despite frequent discussions on transparency and integrity by prominent leaders such as Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji, Governor Tun Musa Aman, and the Sultans of Perak and Pahang in newspapers and social media, the actions of some civil servants and heads of statutory bodies in Sabah appear to fall short of these principles. Since 2022, I have highlighted several instances on my blog that contradict the Chief Minister’s repeated calls for transparency and accountability. Below are a few examples:

Lembaga Pembangunan Perumahan dan Bandar (LPPB) – Housing and Town Development Authority: The General Manager has consistently refused to meet with homeowners, including myself, despite multiple requests.

Lembaga Juruukur Sabah (LJS) – Sabah Survey Board: In June 2023, LJS promised to provide me with a copy of a spot level survey but has yet to deliver, citing delays due to “verification from the authority.” When pressed to identify this authority, no response was given. How does this align with the transparency advocated by the Chief Minister and Governor?

Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) – Kota Kinabalu City Hall: As the body responsible for managing Kota Kinabalu’s administration and resources, DBKK, led by the mayor, is expected to address residents’ concerns. However, several emails sent to DBKK officers and the mayor have gone unanswered. How are citizens supposed to seek recourse when their complaints are ignored?

Sabah Integrity Department (Integrity and Governance Unit, IGU): The IGU is tasked with managing complaints, detecting misconduct, and ensuring good governance in government agencies, including DBKK. On June 11, 2025, two IGU officers attended a meeting at DBKK, but subsequent emails to the department have not been answered. Notably, I requested a signed copy of the minutes from a meeting held on May 5, 2025. The minutes provided to me on June 11, 2025, lack the signature of the meeting’s chairman, Sr. Lifred Wong. Can unsigned minutes be considered valid in court?

Non-responsive Leadership: I reached out to Datuk Masidi Manjun, who directed me to contact Dr. Jamili Nais. Dr. Jamili did not respond. Similarly, multiple emails sent to Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji have gone unanswered.

 

Given these examples, what do our leaders mean when they speak of transparency and integrity? The gap between their rhetoric and the reality faced by citizens raises serious questions about accountability in Sabah’s governance.

Here are examples of reports in the newspapers.

"In this era of rapid information boom, the role of journalists as conveyors of accurate, transparent, and balanced information is crucial in shaping an informed and responsible society," according to a post on the Kesultanan Pahang's official Facebook page 30.5.2025.

The Daily Express has upheld the principles of ethical journalism and have spoken out numerous times without fear or favour.

Here is a Daily Express report dated 3.7.2025.

‘Be neutral when carrying out duties, government staff told’ Published on: Thu, Jul 03, 2025.

Here are extracts from the article:

Hajiji urged all department heads to demonstrate strong commitment in carrying out their responsibilities. 

They must carry out their duties with greater efficiency and accuracy, as well as monitor projects more effectively…

He reminded them to be always responsive, proactive and to practise good governance in carrying out their duties in order to provide the best services to the people.

“Civil servants must carry out their responsibilities with trust, transparency and a strong sense of accountability. They must avoid conflicts of interest so that the State Government’s goals and objectives can be successfully achieved. 

“The interest of the Government is always more important than personal interest,” he said. 

“Without high personal integrity the consequences to the image of the public and the entire State Government institution would be severe,” he said.