KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government must ensure that its recruitment and placement of civil servants should reflect all ethnic groups and religions, Datuk Ewon Benedick (Upko-Kadamaian) told the state assembly here.
"New appointments to the state civil service, including those at federal level in Sabah, should be a representation of all ethnicities and religions. This includes appointments to department heads and promotions," said the Upko president when debating the Sabah Budget 2024 on Monday (Nov 27).
"I was disappointed to hear of complaints about the recruitment at a state department that did not reflect the diversity of Sabah's ethnicities and religions," he said.
Ewon proposed that new appointments, promotions and state department head positions should be based on the demographic percentages of ethnicities and religions in Sabah.
"This way, we can foster the spirit of mutual assistance and ignite the true spirit of Sabah Maju Jaya, as exemplified when we signed the Malaysia Agreement in 1963, with leaders of the major ethnic groups in Sabah signing on behalf of Team Sabah," said Ewon, who is federal Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister.
Issues regarding the state government's failure to fully utilise annual federal development funds caught the attention of many assemblymen debating the RM5.7bil budget tabled by state Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun on Friday (Nov 24).
Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Barisan-Lamag) said that every year, only 50% to 60% of federal development funds were utilised.
He suggested for Sabah to set up a one-stop centre to resolve various technical issues on land and utilities that could delay projects.
"This way, Sabah will be prepared for development funds and can immediately disperse it. If not, we will lose millions of Ringgit every year in development funds," he said.
Bung also questioned the state government's request for only RM300mil from the Federal Government to resolve critical water issues in the state.
"It is not enough. When I was state works minister, we needed RM20bil to RM23bil to comprehensively resolve water problems.
Bung also urged the state government for transparency on its plans to raise RM900mil via sukuk bonds through the state-owned SMJ Sdn Bhd.
"People should know what is being done," he said, adding there are concerns that the fund could be abused.
