KOTA KINABALU: A call has been made to implement a rotation system in Sabah's civil service to address the rise of "Little Napoleons" in government organisations.
Johan Jahid, the special officer to the Rural Development Minister, said that while some ministries have adopted the system, broader and immediate reforms are necessary.
“The appointment of Tun Musa Aman as the 11th Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah, effective Jan 1, 2025, is a significant milestone.
"It should serve as a catalyst for introducing a comprehensive rotation system within the civil service,” Johan said in a statement on Sunday (Dec 29).
He explained that civil servants remaining in the same position for too long often become complacent, leading to misconduct and integrity issues.
Johan added that the system has allowed "Little Napoleons" to thrive — a persistent challenge within both state and federal agencies.
“The transition of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah role from Tun Juhar Mahiruddin to Tun Musa Aman represents positive change and should inspire similar reforms in the civil service,” Johan said.
Johan also lauded Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for his commitment to enhancing Sabah’s administrative systems and driving development.
However, he cautioned that these efforts require collective support to succeed.
“No matter how well the Chief Minister plans, inefficiencies will persist if ‘Little Napoleons’ continue to hinder the government’s operations.
These individuals, often emboldened by prolonged tenure, obstruct policy implementation, undermining well-intentioned initiatives,” he said.
Johan proposed an internal rotation system to facilitate job rotations between departments and ministries.
He said that such a system would not only enhance skills among civil servants but also provide them with a broader understanding of policy implementation at various levels of governance.
“Additionally, a rotation system creates growth opportunities for newer staff, preventing stagnation caused by those who have overstayed and developed an unwarranted sense of superiority in their roles,” he added.
