By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has adopted a new paradigm — Outcome-Based Integrity (OBI) — to build an administration resilient to corruption.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said outcome-based governance is the most effective formula for achieving this.
“Through OBI, every Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption instrument must deliver tangible outcomes,” he said.
OBI rests on three pillars: a significant reduction in the risk of leakages and misconduct; greater efficiency and transparency in public service delivery; and a marked increase in public and investor confidence, as measured by the Public Trust Index.
Hajiji was speaking at the 2026 Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption Convention (KITA), themed “Integrity Driving Sabah Maju Jaya Governance”, at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here yesterday.
He said governance can no longer be reactive. It must be Proactive, Predictive and Preventive — the 3P formula — identifying and stopping problems before they occur through proper risk assessment.
“Disorganised bureaucracy is the most fertile breeding ground for corruption and quick money. Every ringgit of public funds must deliver maximum value directly to the people’s well-being, without losing value along the way,” he said.
The State Government, he said, will pursue three strategic thrusts: strengthening digitalisation, data analytics and behavioural insights through digital governance; deploying predictive analytics; and institutionalising OBI in agency performance assessments.
OBI outcome indicators will be embedded in the annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of all heads of departments and State Government-linked companies. Administrative performance will be measured by the extent of reduction in leakage risks and improvement in service efficiency.
The Government will also expand the role of Certified Integrity Officers (CeIOs) and strengthen Integrity Units to groom a new generation of leaders with integrity.
Hajiji said integrity is not decorative rhetoric but a fundamental pillar of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan.
“Integrity is no longer a slogan. It is the engine that ensures every ringgit and every policy delivers optimum returns and tangible impact to the people, without leakage or misconduct,” he said.
He said a high level of integrity among civil servants is critical to the success of the SMJ 2.0 Development Plan (2026–2030), which lists Integrity-Based Governance as one of its five Strategic Enablers.
In this new phase, he said, service delivery will no longer be judged by paper reports, but by tangible impact on people’s well-being.
“I call on all civil servants to strengthen teamwork and uphold the highest work ethics,” he said.
More than 2,500 participants from across the state attended the two-day KITA 2026, reflecting a collective commitment to strengthening Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIA).
Since its launch in 2023 and its second edition in 2024, KITA has established itself as a leading platform for GIA management and laid the foundation for Sabah to become a pioneer and benchmark in the field, Hajiji said.
Among its achievements are the appointment of 10 CeIOs as heads of Integrity Units in every ministry; the development of the iAdu mobile application, the i-DIMSS and i-STANS systems; and 17 state agency officers obtaining Certification in Professional Integrity Assurance and Management (CPIAM) from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
At the national level, the State Integrity and Governance Division (BIGoNS) under the State Secretary’s Office received UNGGUL recognition under the Integrity and Governance Management System (SPINE) certification by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM).
Hajiji performing the launch gimmick for the 2026 Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption Convention (KITA).
