Nothing wrong for agencies to be under one roof: Musa

Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman on Wednesday defended the move to have state-owned company Sawit Kinabalu operate at the State Administration Complex which is under construction in Likas.
He said there is nothing wrong for government agencies and state-owned companies to operate under one roof, as this would make it easier for the public and government officers who need to deal with one another.
It would cost a huge amount of money if all the government agencies and state-owned companies were to build their own administration building, said Musa who is also Sawit Kinabalu Group Chairman at its annual dinner at the Magellan Sutera, here.
Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, was responding to queries by certain quarters who asked why Sawit Kinabalu is given a place to operate at the said administration complex.
Sawit Kinabalu is also contributing RM100 million for the construction of new State Administration Complex, which will place all divisions under the Chief Minister's Department (CMD) and Finance Ministry under one roof.
This was based on a plan since the 1980s.
In explaining the administration complex before this, Musa had said that it was not economical for state agencies and state-owned companies like Sawit Kinabalu and Warisan Harta (Sabah) Sdn Bhd to have their own buildings.
If they are in the same building, he said, they can share the facilities provided, besides it will also be convenient for the public if the CMD, Finance Ministry and other agencies operate under one roof.
Apart from Sawit Kinabalu, Warisan Harta Sabah is also contributing RM50 million to the 30-month long project. Several statutory bodies and state agencies have also come up with RM100 million in the form of dividends to the State Government.
Musa, meanwhile, was pleased with Sawit Kinabalu's achievement of nearly RM300 million in profit last year, which was its highest to date, and hoped it will continue to achieve more success and contribute more to the State.
Sawit Kinabalu Group Managing Director Haji Othman Walat, in his welcoming speech, said the impressive achievement last year will become an inspiration and confidence booster for the company to continue striving hard and not be complacent with past successes.
He also gave an update on the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Sandakan, one of the company's projects, saying the site and basic infrastructure constructions for Phase One development is now almost complete.
To be equipped with modern facilities and logistics support, the POIC Sandakan phase one development will be launched and promoted as a target for those investing in oil palm downstream and relevant activities.
"Sawit Kinabalu is also ever ready to face with optimism the challenges brought about by the present decline in oil palm commodity price and that is expected to emerge in future through suitable planning and strategiesÉ we are optimistic to be able to prevent any potential crisis," he said, adding the company is constantly doing improvement on its systems and relevant processes.