Shafie Has No Issue With Macc Probing Sabah Glc

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Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal says many GLCs in Sabah are experiencing financial problems, accounting discrepancies and management issues. (Bernama pic)KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Shafie Apdal has welcomed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate government-linked company Benta Wawasan
However, he said it is not the focus of the state government to push for major investigations of all trouble-plagued GLCs in Sabah
Rather, it wants to look for the root causes of the problems before it carries out a restructuring exercise, he said
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
“The company has explained the reasons and they are looking into rectifying the matter
“It’s up to the agency (MACC) if they want to investigate,” he told reporters after a function here today
It was reported that the previous state government had channelled RM750 million to Benta Wawasan but only RM30 million remained
The state government had also given 150,000ha to the company for development but only 40,000ha were utilised, with 25,000ha planted with oil palm
Shafie had questioned what happened to the remaining 110,000ha during an event with Benta Wawasan yesterday
The chief minister said he wanted to ensure all GLCs in Sabah were in a healthy financial position
“Many of the GLCs like Warisan Harta, Yayasan Sabah and Benta have many assets previously but now we don’t know where they are
“GLCs are there for a purpose … not only to generate money for the companies but for the state

“We have to really ensure we are thorough, maybe do some forensic accounting,” he said. -FMT

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