The seemingly powerful Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) may have been defeated in the May general election but the real work for newcomer Parti Warisan Sabah has only started.

What more with Warisan president and chief minister Shafie Apdal admitting that his ruling pact comprising his party, United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation (Upko) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) has inherited the mess of the previous BN government.

“Well I must say, I feel embattled, not easy. I thought when I took over, there will be enough money, reserves or surpluses, but goodness, when Dr Mahathir said I will discover some things beyond expectations, I was indeed surprised myself,” he said when asked how the new government was fairing so far.

The Warisan-PH-Upko state government will hit its 100-day milestone on August 21.

Making best of whatever resources available, Shafie said the Warisan-led government has achieved a few milestones.

These include setting up the state’s own Health and People Wellbeing Ministry and Education and Innovation Ministry, imposing the temporary log exports, and revamping the forestry and water departments.

Shafie also pledged to announce more initiatives once the Warisan-led government hits 100 days in office.

“I don’t want to spell out what’s going to be announced. Some of it, I have already announced. But its not bad, considering we have already done something for Sabah.

“But what we want will be a total change.

“I know there are high hopes down the line there, high expectations, but you can’t unwind that (so soon) after having to change the government that has been in power for more 17 years.

“With only 100 days one cannot expect miracles,” he said.

Despite the various initiatives introduced, Shafie was also aware of the negative criticism hurled at some of his policies.  

Critics said the government has failed to deal with some of the past controversial issues created during the BN era, like the Kaiduan Dam, the Tanjung Aru Eco Development Project and choices of department heads as well as the failure in naming of new heads of government-linked companies (GLC).

“Well in life, it is not going to be easy. When you take over, there will be generals but you can’t kill all the generals.

“They have vast experience, some of them. You can’t change all the heads.

“But of course you have to have good leadership in certain parts of GLCs and government departments to ensure they have the right mindset to support the current government, and that will be done,” he said.

Shafie also said the government can come up with good policies but faced with bad implementation and also bad policies but great implementation.

But this depends on whether all those in the public service are onboard and whether those who are put in charge really have the credentials to take on the challenges, he said.

This includes appointing individuals based on their merits instead of political affiliations, he added.

For example, the appointment of an engineer from a private company to restructure and turnaround the troubled Sabah Water Department.

“There will be more surprises like this in the future… but we are fairly confident, given time, a year or a year and a half like that, we will be able to put Sabah in the right footing.

“Not just in terms of structural but also within the GLCs, the government departments and other outlets crucial to the development of the state.” – August 16, 2018.