KOTA KINABALU, Oct 6 — The Sabah government has introduced a new Outcome-Based Integrity (OBI) approach as a formula to build a resilient and corruption-resistant administrative ecosystem.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said OBI would focus on three key areas: significantly reducing the risk of leakages and fundamental misconduct, improving the efficiency and transparency of public service delivery, and increasing public and investor confidence.

He said every governance, integrity and anti-corruption instrument under OBI must deliver tangible results, stressing that integrity was not merely rhetoric but a key pillar underpinning the success of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan.

“OBI outcome measures will form part of the annual Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all heads of departments and leaders of state-owned companies, while administrative performance will be measured by the reduction in leakage risks and service efficiency.” 

Hajiji said this when opening the 2026 Integrity, Governance and Anti-Corruption Convention (KITA), themed “Integrity Driving Sabah Maju Jaya Governance”, at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) today.

The chief minister said every ringgit of public funds spent must deliver maximum value for money and directly benefit the people without being lost through leakages.

He said poorly managed bureaucracy created fertile ground for corruption and wastage.

“Governance will no longer be reactive but based on the 3P formula - Proactive, Predictive and Preventive — by preventing problems before they occur based on actual risk assessments,” he noted.

He said the state government would also strengthen digitalisation, data analytics and behavioural insights, while institutionalising OBI in agency performance assessments, while at the same time expanding the role of Certified Integrity Officers (CeIOs) and strengthening Integrity Units to develop a new generation of leaders grounded in integrity.

“Integrity is the driving force that ensures every public fund and government policy delivers optimum returns and tangible benefits to the people without leakage or misconduct,” he said.

Hajiji said more than 2,500 participants from across Sabah were attending the two-day KITA 2026, reflecting a collective commitment to strengthening governance, integrity and anti-corruption practices.

Since KITA was introduced in 2023, he said 10 CeIOs have been appointed to head Integrity Units in state ministries, while the i-Adu mobile application, i-DIMSS and i-STANS systems have been developed.

Another 17 Sabah state agency officers have obtained the Certification in Professional Integrity Assurance and Management (CPIAM) from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Hajiji said the Sabah Integrity and Governance Division (BIGoNS) under the State Secretary’s Office had also received the UNGGUL recognition under the Integrity and Governance Management System (SPINE) certification by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM). — Bernama