The Parti Warisan Sabah president said he would need more time to really get Sabah on the right track.
“We are fairly confident. Given time, in a year or year and a half, we will put Sabah on the right footing, not only in terms of structural changes but also how GLCs (government-linked companies) and the government departments are managed,” he said to reporters here today.
He said the work has not been easy.
“I thought when I took over there will be enough money, ample reserves. But, goodness, (Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad told me you will discover something beyond your expectations.
“So I was indeed surprised. I think what is important now is how best we can overcome that sort of problems,” he added.
Shafie said the government has delivered on some of its pledges made prior to the May general election, without going into specifics.
“I don’t want to spell out what’s going to be announced … some of them I have already announced. But it’s not bad, we have done something for Sabah … it will be a total change.
“I know there’s high hopes down the line but you can’t unwind that (so soon) after changing the government that was in power for so long.
“It is hardly 100 days we have been here so one cannot expect miracles,” he said.
Asked about some policies of the new government that drew flak, Shafie said he was aware not all decisions were popular but they needed to be done to move Sabah forward.
“One good example is the Water Department. I know it’s a bold move we have done (and) there’s an outcry over this but the public want(s) ample supply of clean and treated water. And that is more important than anything else.
“But how do we realise that? We can only realise that when you have efficiency and the people with the expertise. And it must be based on merit.
“You can have good policies but if the civil servants are not on board, you can’t do much. You can have bad policies but when the civil servants are excellent – I can tell you, you can do wonders.”
The state government recently had to defend its choice of a Warisan branch leader, Amarjit Singh, who was once under a graft probe, as the new water department director.
On the slow appointment of some GLC heads, Shafie said he was not planning to change all the heads as some possessed strong capabilities to continue leading their respective bodies.
“When you take over a government, there will be generals there … but you can’t ‘kill’ all the generals.
“Some of them have vast experience. You can’t change all the heads. But of course, you have to have good leadership in certain GLCs and departments to ensure they have the right mindset to support the current government.
“And that will be done … give us a while, it will be less than a month, hopefully. There will be some surprises,” he said.
While the abolishment of native land communal titles, the temporary ban of timber log exports and overhaul of the civil service were met with approval, other decisions have not gone down so well, especially with the opposition.
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan had slammed the proposal to grant work passes to illegal immigrants.
The Taskforce Against Kaiduan Dam (Takad) claimed Warisan made a U-turn on the dam issue by merely rebranding it and relocating it to nearby Papar district.
The opposition also questioned the state government on the oil royalty issue, contending Putrajaya’s offer had fallen short of the desired 20% royalty pledge since it would be based on profit sharing.
Shafie was confident the country would experience more positive changes in the coming months under Mahathir.
“I’m so delighted that things have changed a lot. I think it’s for the better. I’m quite sure under the leadership of the current PM, with his vast experience, the country is in the right hands and I think we will be moving forward.
“Not only Malaysians, I think the whole world knows Mahathir.
“What’s important, as Malaysians, we have to give him the fullest support possible to ensure it will be for the betterment of the country and the people,” he said.
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