Facebook Pressure Forces Rectification at Golf Garden — Now We Must Fix the System

 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who commented and shared my post on the shoddy work at Golf Garden.

Early yesterday morning, two workers came and hacked out the cement in the playground. By 3pm, about a quarter of the cemented area had already been dug up.

Later in the afternoon, two officers from Unit Pemimpin Pembangunan Masyarakat (UPPM) called me to meet them at the basketball court. They informed me that a letter had been issued to the contractor to rectify the situation.

I was told that UPPM officers were alerted by Facebook users — apparently, complaints posted here are often forwarded to them for action.

So once again, thank you for amplifying this issue. Because of your comments and shares, more Sabahans are now aware of the shortcomings of our contractors. And this is exactly what we need — as many comments and shared posts as possible to highlight issues that affect our daily lives and improve the status of Sabahans. Too often, we appear to blame the Federal Government for poor allocation of funds, when in reality, it is our own civil servants and politicians whose negligence and lack of accountability keep Sabah lagging behind.

Here’s a photo of the hacking work at the playground.

It took two workmen to break up about a quarter of the cement using two Jackhammers.

Yesterday, on 13 July 2026, most of the excavated concrete was finally carted away from the site. Shortly after, a new set of BRC mats was delivered.

 

                                                                       

 

What immediately stood out was the noticeably thicker gauge and heavier mesh of these new mats — clearly a different specification from the flimsy “wire” that had originally been used. It appears the contractor initially tried to get away with supplying a much lighter grade than what was quoted and paid for. Only after the issue surfaced was the proper material brought in.

The bigger question is: who is truly at fault here?

If the officers from Majlis Daerah had properly supervised the works — especially one that was publicly funded — would this kind of cost-cutting and quality compromise have occurred in the first place? Did the relevant staff simply turn a blind eye, perhaps due to personal favours, relationships, or other undeclared interests?

This is not an isolated incident. The cracks that have already appeared on the adjacent basketball court within just one month of construction are clear proof of what happens when the wrong (lighter) grade of BRC is used. Across many local government projects, we repeatedly see the same pattern: substandard materials, poor workmanship, and a lack of meaningful oversight. How do we break this cycle?

Solutions worth considering:

Strict, independent quality inspections at every critical stage (material delivery, reinforcement placement, and concreting) by qualified third-party engineers, not just internal staff. 

Mandatory public disclosure of approved specifications versus actual materials used on each project. 

Clear accountability mechanisms:

Any civil servant found negligent or complicit in approving substandard work should face disciplinary action, including suspension, demotion, or dismissal. 

For serious or repeated offences, pension rights should not be treated as an absolute shield. As I argued in my earlier post, Pension is Not an Absolute Right, public servants who betray public trust should face proportionate consequences, including reduction or forfeiture of pension benefits in grave cases. This would serve as a strong deterrent.

Taxpayers deserve better. When public funds are involved, “close one eye” culture must end. Proper supervision and real accountability are not optional — they are basic duties.