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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. 

These are commendable aspirations, and I fully support the call for strong leadership and public cooperation to foster Sabah’s growth.  However, I would like to respectfully raise concerns about challenges I have encountered in engaging with certain authorities, which seem to hinder the realisation of these goals.

Musa emphasised the importance of integrity and accountability in governance. However, I have faced difficulties in obtaining responses to multiple emails sent to the General Manager of the Lembaga Pembangunan Perumahan dan Bandar (LPPB), the statutory body under the Sabah Ministry of Local Government and Housing responsible for housing and urban development.

Additionally, requests from homeowners, including myself, for meetings to discuss grievances have not been acknowledged. I kindly ask how we can uphold accountability when such communications go unanswered.

Similarly, I have reached out to the Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK), the local authority tasked with overseeing city development, zoning, and infrastructure planning, but have not received replies to numerous emails. 

This lack of response raises concerns about how DBKK is addressing its responsibilities to the community.

Furthermore, I have encountered challenges with the Lembaga Jurukur Sabah (LJS), the Sabah Surveyors Board, which regulates land surveying activities. 

In December 2022, I lodged a complaint regarding a licensed surveyor who allegedly fabricated an as-built survey, yet no response or action has been forthcoming.

I respectfully seek clarification on which authority might address such concerns to ensure accountability.

During the tenure of Datuk Masidi Manjun as the Sabah Housing and Local Government Minister (September 2020 to January 2023), I followed his guidance to direct correspondence to Dr Jamili Nais, the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

Regrettably, my letter to Dr. Nais also went unanswered. Since January 2023, under the leadership of Datuk Joachim Gunsalam, I have continued to face similar challenges in receiving responses to my concerns.

Another matter of concern involves a property purchased by Faisal Luqman, the first Sabahan to receive the prestigious Agong’s Scholarship.

The property, issued an occupancy certificate, was later found unsuitable for occupancy due to discrepancies in the certification process. 

This raises questions about how the government prioritises the well-being of its citizens when such issues persist.

Musa wisely noted that maintaining success is more challenging than achieving it, requiring careful planning, effective execution, and unwavering determination. 

Reflecting on my experience with the Korperasi Pembangunan Desa, where I was tasked with updating records I observed that despite innovative ideas and Sabah briefly achieving the position of the second-ranked state, the lack of consistent planning and execution by officers hindered sustained progress.

I admire the Governor’s vision for sustainable and inclusive development through strong leadership and public support.  However, I humbly suggest that greater responsiveness and accountability from statutory bodies such as LPPB, DBKK, and LJS would help align their actions with the state’s aspirations. 

I respectfully seek guidance on how concerned citizens can effectively engage with these authorities to address grievances and contribute to Sabah’s progress.

Thank you Daily Express for providing a platform to share these concerns. I remain hopeful that, with collaborative efforts, Sabah can achieve the Governor’s vision of standing on par with other states in development.

Luqman Michel

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]