Shafie’s sweeping statement on GLCs unfair and demoralising, says Apas rep

Apas assemblyman Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan says that GLCs, ‘on a collective basis, are doing well’. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: A former Umno assemblyman has hit out at Chief Minister Shafie Apdal for claiming that a majority of government-linked companies (GLCs) are in financial trouble.

In refuting the claim, Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said that GLCs, “on a collective basis, are doing well and have always done well” due to the support they received from the Sabah government.

Nizam, now an independent assemblyman for Apas, said that while there were GLCs that were underperforming, Shafie had misled the people by declaring that a majority were in financial trouble.

“This is a sweeping statement that is unfair and demoralising to the CEOs, management and staff of state GLCs,” he said in a statement.

On Sunday, Shafie, who is also the Warisan president, said many GLCs in Sabah were experiencing financial problems, accounting discrepancies and management issues.

Among them was Benta Wawasan, a subsidiary of the state-owned Yayasan Sabah Group.

Nizam said that if the present administration believed that there were irregularities in Benta Wawasan, it should launch an investigation and bring the matter to light.

“Nitpicking and splitting hairs is not the way to govern a state.”

He said the GLCs had put up a “sterling performance” after they contributed RM130 million in dividends to the Sabah government last year, apart from paying back loans and advances received from the state.

He said it was clear the companies had been responsible in managing finances in an open, transparent and accountable manner.

Nizam said the current administration should not belittle the GLCs.

“It doesn’t make one look more capable,” he added. -FMT