KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will restructure the state administration starting next year for more effective development at the districts.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir said the new approach include having 73 assistant district officer (ADO) posts to smoothen development management in 73 State Assembly (DUN) constituencies.
"The 73 ADO (Development) will act as the main officer who will be responsible to improve management and administration in their respective state constituencies.
"In principle, the government has targeted 24 ADO to be placed at 24 full district offices by the end of this year, while the rest will be implemented next year," he said this when answering a question from Mohammad Mohamarin (Warisan - Banggi) on the government's proposal to upgrade small districts into full districts.
He said the move to upgrade small districts to full districts was not a solution to develop districts more effectively
However, Abidin said the relevant authorities would re-examine the upgrading criteria and give priority to districts that can collect revenue for its respective councils.
"For example, the Membakut District Office which has a revenue collection of RM6.38 million a year has enabled it to be upgraded to a full district office.
"Based on the record of revenue collection by the district council last year, there are several District Councils that failed to collect revenue in the district and this makes the District Council a liability to the government.
"For example, Semporna District Council (RM789,541.00), Pitas (-RM568,684.00), Nabawan (-RM2,252,311.00), Lahad Datu (-RM2,573,371.00), Kunak (-RM1,281,662.00 and Kuala Penyu District Council (RM104, 344.00).
"This shows that the income collected by the district Council is a reflection of the district's readiness to become a full district."