Page 17 - PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin 04_2020

AA Issue no. 4 | 2020
ALUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIESLUMNI VOICES SERIES

Why did he feel it was necessary to look for me? I never In September 1997 Sabah launched Sabah.net (State
met the boy again despite taking the same bus route Network) and the Electronic Government where I was
almost daily for several months after. If I ever do meet involved directly as Director of the Science and
him, I say that while I struggled to communicate with Technology Unit. In 1999 we initiated the Reinventing
him, he found ways to tell me his feelings in the end. Government Initiative, a philosophy that still guides the
And ultimately, while I did not think twice about paying State Public Service till today. In 2003 as State
the bus conductor, it spoke volumes to him. I guess Five Secretary, we launched the State Succession Planning
cents did go very far back then. Programme, to prepare the state public service leaders
of the future. My call was “We want to create Good
The moral of the story is this; it is not how much we give Leaders, Not Selfish Leaders”.
or do, but the sincerity of the act, and the very act of
helping people. People, both the receiver and the giver, I love Training and Learning. Thus, my involvement
are shaped by the simplest of deeds. While this with the two universities in Sabah are experiences I
happened thirty years ago, this remains one of the more cherish. Since my appointment Head of the Training
important memories I cherish as a university student in and Career/Scholarship Division in October 1978, I have
the big city, which in many ways shaped my outlook in been involved with Training in many capacities. As
life, both personal and professional. State Secretary, besides giving lectures and talks to the
Succession Planning Groups, I also presented and
My childhood dream as all my friends knew was to be a wrote papers at national and international conferences
musician. However, as I do not have the basic and seminars.
qualification, I was not able to enter a Music School.
This dream was half-fulfilled with the formation of a After my retirement in July 2007, I was appointed to
Malay Pop Band with me playing lead guitar and was several positions. I am on the Board of Sawit Kinabalu
the band leader. This later provided the grounding for Sdn Bhd (State Plantation GLC), Suria Capital Holding
leadership training in my government service career Bhd (a state public listed company), and BERJAYA Land
and life. Bhd (public listed company). In August 2017 I was
appointed Chairman to the Board of Governors at the
With my university education, it was destined that I University College Sabah Foundation; and in November
become an administrator beginning at the lowest rung, 2018, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Universiti
and surprisingly reaching the peak of the profession in Malaysia Sabah (I resigned on 31 July 2019). The State
Sabah. I entered the Civil Service in Sabah, and Government appointed me as Chairman, State Public
endeavored to give it my all, pouring my heart into the Service Commission effective 1 July 2020.
work and did my best. I am proud to say that in my long
career I was entrusted with the duties that included
head of the Training and Career Division, Service
Division at the Establishment Office, Director, State
Public Services Department, and finally, the State
Secretary of Sabah.

“to prepare the state

public service leaders

of the future. My call

was 'We want to create

Good Leaders, Not

Selfish Leaders'.” Datuk Mu stafa (middle) singing with two university mates at the
Fr eshies Talent Time Show in 1971, for orientation week. They did
not win but had a great time.

17 | Pulse @ FASS