Masidi receiving a memento from Tan after presenting membership certificates to the first batch of SAPA members.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government has rolled out a new policy aimed at strengthening local economic participation by prioritising Sabah-based firms in the procurement of audit and financial services by State Statutory Bodies (BBN) and Government-Linked Companies (GLCs).
The policy mandates that accounting firms domiciled in Sabah be given preference, helping to retain economic value within the state while empowering homegrown professionals and enhancing the competitiveness of Sabah’s accounting sector.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said the move goes beyond procurement—it’s about creating meaningful opportunities for Sabahans.
“We want our young accounting graduates to thrive in their home state, and for our economic growth to be driven by local expertise.
“We are sending a clear message: Sabah is ready to nurture and grow its professional class, especially in fields like accounting and finance, which are vital to good governance and economic development,” he said during a courtesy call by the Sabah Association of Professional Accountants (SAPA) today.
Under the new guidelines, contracts below RM50,000 for audit and financial services must be awarded exclusively to Sabah-based firms registered with SAPA. For contracts above RM50,000, local firms must still be prioritised, with exceptions permitted only through written justification to the Ministry.
SAPA welcomed the initiative, calling it a major step toward uplifting local professionals.
“We thank the Honourable Minister and the Sabah Government for this visionary policy. It represents a pivotal shift towards inclusive development and shows a genuine commitment to the future of Sabah’s professional ecosystem,” said SAPA President Datuk Tan Kok Liang.
During the event, Masidi also presented membership certificates to SAPA’s first batch of 15 new members, marking the Government’s support for the growth of a robust and professional accounting community in the state.
