Luqman's musings

  Three years ago, I wrote about the “ Little Napoleons ” who thrive in our civil service — officers who ignore correspondence, flout the Piagam Pelanggan  requirement to reply within two weeks, and act with impunity. Today, the same arrogance continues unchecked, despite promises of reform. Rosemary AhPing of LPPB never replied to my emails then, and the silence remains. DBKK officers continue to disregard public correspondence. The Selangor Education Director has failed to respond to emails dated 5 and 6 June 2026. This is not incompetence; it is a culture of impunity.

  The Daily Express recently reported that tribunal losers must comply with orders or face enforcement through court action. The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) reminded the public that compliance is not optional — it is a legal duty. LINK   This principle should apply equally to all, including educators entrusted with shaping the next generation. Yet, in West Malaysia, a teacher continues to defy a High Court order to pay RM3,000 in costs. Such defiance is not a private matter; it is a breach of integrity that undermines both the judiciary and the teaching profession .

  Even when you and other government servants (sorry, masters) work from the office, I don't get replies to emails and letters. Now what can we expect when you work from home? That was my quick reaction to YB Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun ’s recent statement on Sabah’s plan to follow the Federal Government’s Work From Home (WFH) policy .

                                                        For a clearer view click on the image.   Key References from Historical Documents The 2018 development plan was signed by Mr. Stanley Chong, who was then the Director of City Planning at Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK); he was later promoted to Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.   Pelan pembangunan 2018 ditandatangani oleh Encik Stanley Chong, yang pada masa itu menjawat jawatan Pengarah Perancangan Bandar di Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK); beliau kemudiannya dilantik ke jawatan Timbalan Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Kerajaan Tempatan dan Perumahan. The 1997 circular issued by the relevant authority includes the following pertinent items: Surat pekeliling 1997 yang dikeluarkan oleh pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan merangkumi perkar...

Fifteen years after the Daily Express highlighted the plight of Sabah house buyers in August 2009, the question remains: has the situation improved? Are property buyers now receiving their titles within months of moving in, as seen in places like Singapore? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding no. The challenges persist, and for many, owning a home without a strata title remains a frustrating reality, with little hope for change in the coming years. Daily Express LINK

  A few years ago, an officer from a statutory body was reassigned to the interior. Following the appointment of a new mayor, he was transferred back to the department and promoted to a senior position. Subsequently, he was bestowed the title of Datuk. Below is a Daily Express article dated April 17, 2016 that may be relevant, accompanied by my comments.

  A Daily Express article dated August 25, 2025 discusses the introduction of a new emergency rescue system, set to launch before the end of 2025. LINK Below are key details from the article, followed by my observations:

  The call for senior officials, such as those from the Occupational Crime and Corruption Investigation (OCCI) and even the Chief Police (CP), to temporarily go on leave during investigations into serious cases, as suggested in the Zara Qairina Mahathir case, highlights the need for proactive accountability. Daily Express  The activist’s point, suggests that such an investigation should be automatic when a case involves a minor’s death under questionable circumstances, especially with allegations of bullying and visible injuries like bruises reported by the victim’s mother. Similarly, in the Vistana Heights case, an automatic investigation should have been initiated upon my initial complaint to the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and the Department of Land and Survey (LJS) regarding the fabricated as-built survey report.

  In Kota Kinabalu, the old adage that laws are only as effective as their enforcement rings true across diverse issues, from bullying to wildlife protection and even building regulations. A recent article in the Daily Express highlighted this critical point, emphasizing that without robust enforcement mechanisms, even the most well-intentioned laws are rendered useless. 

In yesterday’s Daily Express – Comments and analysis column I read a very informative article by Datuk Roger Chin. LINK Here are some salient points which Roger Chin dared to point out. The article: It has been more than 20 years since the law provided for an Appeal Board. Not constituting it after all this time is not just an oversight – it is an abdication of duty. Its time to end the silence and give Sabah the institutional recourse it has long been denied.

I read the following in our Daily Express yesterday, 20.7.2025 titled: PAM Sabah celebrates its Golden Jubilee. “Our aim is to reinforce PAM as a proactive platform not only for professional development but also for meaningful engagement with local authorities, educational institutions, and our members,” Daniel said. Ar. Daniel Koh Chung Hou is the current chairman of PAM (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia) Sabah Chapter. I will write a post on this tomorrow. Meanwhile here are background information to understand better my intended response to the newspaper article. 

  Datuk John Lo’s article in the Daily Express today continues his tradition of posing questions about Sabah’s development. Having followed his columns for years, I appreciate his knack for highlighting critical issues, yet I’ve noticed he often sidesteps direct questions posed to him. Today, I’ll engage with his questions, offer some answers, and pose a few of my own. 

 Tatal ke bawah untuk membaca dalam Bahasa Melayu Here is my newspaper article that appeared in the Daily Express yesterday. LINK I have copied the contents for your ease of reading.   I AM writing with respect to your report on June 22, 2025, titled Capable Leadership with Integrity (Daily Express, https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/ 260908/capable-leadership-with-integrity/). In the article, Governor Tun Musa Aman, expressed his vision for Sabah to be governed with integrity, accountability, and wisdom, underpinned by sustainable development plans that prioritise the well-being of its people.

  Following is the reply from Mr. Mok, the chairman of PAM (Sabah). On Sunday, 23 March 2025 at 06:27:43 GMT+8, Arkitek Mok JY <arkitekmokjy@gmail.com> wrote: [STRICTLY WITHOUT PREJUDICE] Subject: Response to Your Enquiry on Retaining Wall and Land Stability Concerns Dear Mr. Luqman Michel, Thank you for your email and for referencing my article in the Daily Express on 2 March 2025. I appreciate you reaching out with your concerns regarding the development project.

The lady in the photo above is 5 feet 2 inches. The as-built survey plan says the height difference between the road height and the house platform height is 1 foot. Are the architects blind? I refer to the views expressed by the Chairman of PAM (Sabah chapter) in Forum on 2.3.2025. The Chairman stated that the Daily Express report on over-certifying projects unfairly generalized architects and risked damaging the reputation of the entire profession.  

 The Daily express published an article on my complaint about the driveway at Vistana Heights. Here is the article in full. I have complained abut this to SPRM and eagerly awaiting their investigation results.   Click on the image for a clearer view. 

  On 18.3.24 the front page headline in our Daily Express was ‘Many things to put right first’. This was with regard to the proposed Municipal Council upgrade. Many Penampang folks complained about many aspects that need rectification before the Municipal Council upgrade. In 2020, I had complained to the Council about the condition of the basketball court that was destroyed by the Department of Irrigation contractors who came to repair the drain at Golf Garden that had collapsed. I reminded the Council several times since then and despite promises to repair the damaged playground no action has been taken.

                                                                      On 28.9.2023 there was an article in the Daily Express on higher penalties imposed by Sabah to prevent abandoned projects Here are some excerpts and my comments: It was noted that previously, besides licensed developers, there were also fly-by-night non-local operators in cahoots with Sabahan partners, whose firms were not members of the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda). Topwira, the developer of Vistana Heights is not a member of Shareda. 

  Tatal ke bawah untuk membaca dalam Bahasa Melayu Is it for better protection for house buyers or for some other reason? Here is an email I wrote on 16.8.2023 to the Minister in charge of Housing and copied to the Mayor, DBKK officers, LPPB, Sabah Surveyors Board, Land & Survey Department, Datuk Jamili Nais, and Datuk Roland Chia (PA to the Chief Minister - Datuk Hajiji). Dear Datuk Seri Joachim Gunsalam, In a Daily Express article dated 11.8.2023, I read the following: “In general, this enactment is a law for the licensing control of housing development matters in Sabah and serves to protect the interest of home buyers….”. This enactment is to protect the interest of home buyers of ‘sick housing’ projects so that they will not turn into abandoned housing. “The essence of the amendment to this Bill is firstly, to protect homebuyers, especially from problematic housing development. Secondly, the purpose is also to prevent any housing developers from taking the easy w...

  The above is the headline in yesterday’s, 6.8.2023, Daily Express . Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is determined to put a stop to corrupt practices and irregularities which he said seemed to have become systemic and damaged the previous administration. He claimed that the previous governments were beset by the practice of officials asking for a ‘commission’. I have avoided talking about ‘commission’ as I have no evidence of the same. But, I have questioned how DBKK approved the Vistana Heights project that flouted many of the laws - rules and regulations - in the Housing and Town Development Authority Enactment.