
Graft root of Sabah's woes
Published on: Thursday, May 08, 2025
Published on: Thu, May 08, 2025
By: David Thien Text Size: Chin (second left) and Lo (second right) during that podcast session. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's public enemy number one is corruption as it is the reason so many things have gone wrong in the State, according to former Sabah Law Society head Datuk Roger Chin. 'We must make the people so upset, so angry about corruption that they will not tolerate it. 'Once you do away with corruption, things will work as it should be, and money will stay here. And opportunities would go where they should have gone because they are qualified and the best persons for the job etc,' he said. He was speaking at NGO Sabar's Kopitiam Council podcast with Datuk John Lo on the 'Oversight & Reform of Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) Transparency, Accountability & Corruption Prevention. Why is Sabah struggling? Unpacking GLCs, corruption and lost billions,' he said. John, an ex-banker said people who have been put in trust have not been doing their proper job. I always feel we Sabahans are our biggest enemy.' He noted that some GLCs are putting in professional people to run them. 'They have professional management and good board members to perform very well,' Lo said. 'We have to reform.' 'We must transform ourselves. We must transform our mindset to get Sabah going well again.' Chin said civil society, media and the public are the three bodies that must be strong and proactive to play a vital role in the fight to check and curb corruption. 'Civil society must continuously talk about corruption and what is happening out there, basically educating the public about corruption. So civil society plays a major function to educate the public what corruption is and they must keep going and talk about policies. 'So part of Sabar's efforts will be talking about policies and solutions which civil society is very good at. 'The media should continue to do investigative studies to make sure that issues of corruption are made known. Imagine the 1MDB issue, if the media was not on it, 1MDB may never even have been an issue. 'The media has this tremendous power to shape society, depending on what they write, they could influence popular views. I have always said the media is one of the most powerful institutions in the world. 'That is why it is also a duty for them (media) to educate the public to let the public know about what is corruption and expose corruption,' said Chin. He said the public must never allow corruption to be a normal thing. We must question our leaders. 'If a politician takes personal affront to it, that means they may have no answer to you. There is nothing wrong in questioning your leaders. Chin said the public must not be ignored. 'You have social media. You have WhatsApp where you can viral anything you want.' 'You have the tool which was not available in the past and because of this, the public has got a tremendous amount of influence and ability to combat corruption.' Lo said Sabahan must also have faith in ourselves. 'If we do not have faith and confidence in ourselves as Sabahans, if we always think that other people are better, then we are not going to go anyway. 'We must know how to look after ourselves. That's why the Sabahan First Policy is very important. 'Instead of making other people rich, we should make ourselves rich. I hope to see many Sabahans become billionaires who will stay and invest their monies in Sabah,' said Lo. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Young Sabahans turn to social media amid party scepticism
KOTA KINABALU: A significant number of young Sabahans are becoming politically literate through social media, said Sabah Youth Council president Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan. However, he said that this group of youngsters, aged between 18 and 40, remains sceptical of formal institutions and traditional political parties. Abqaree said younger voters are increasingly looking past party logos and towards individual candidates' track records. "Sabahan youth are primarily concerned with daily, tangible issues such as access to jobs, basic amenities like roads, electricity, clean water, reliable internet, land rights, and the cost of living, especially outside Kota Kinabalu. "This mistrust stems from years of political instability, party-hopping, and leadership that appears inconsistent or out of touch. "Young voters want to see action, not just promises," he told the New Straits Times, while warning of the possibility that they may also decline to vote if there isn't a strong campaign to raise awareness and rekindle interest in choosing credible leaders. While Abqaree said that youngsters, especially from rural Sabah, resonate strongly with the "Sabah for Sabahan" sentiment, Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas offered a different perspective on the matter. The research assistant at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) said that while the sentiment continues to gain traction, it is also clear that today's youth are deeply pragmatic. "What they want are realistic policies, meaningful autonomy, and effective delivery mechanisms. "Many are prioritising leadership quality, transparency, and the ability to deliver on real issues: jobs, education, cost of living, and equitable development. "This pragmatism reflects a long-standing political culture in Sabah, where voters are known to cross party lines if it means better governance or greater returns for the state." The former two-time election candidate from Kiulu, who is also studying the political participation of Undi18 voters, said that political parties must rise to the occasion. This state election may well determine whether Sabah's political scene can evolve in step with a younger generation that is values-driven, outcome-focused, and determined to shape a more inclusive and locally grounded future. "If parties continue to neglect youth representation or fail to deliver tangible reforms, they risk being rejected by a generation that's no longer easily swayed by party nostalgia or outdated campaign methods."


Daily Express
10 hours ago
- Daily Express
Warisan urges more Sabahan representation in judiciary, Judicial Appointments Commission
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 Text Size: Chin further urged the Government and judiciary to ensure that qualified Sabahans, including retired judges, are considered for all future appointments to the appellate courts and the JAC. Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan called for greater Sabahan representation in the higher judiciary and the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), raising longstanding concerns about East Malaysia's exclusion from key national decision-making bodies. The party's legal advisor, Chin Tek Ming, said it was deeply troubling that not a single Sabahan currently sits on the nine-member JAC, which is tasked with nominating judges to Malaysia's superior courts. Advertisement 'The judiciary must reflect the diverse fabric of Malaysia, inclusive of voices from East Malaysia,' he said in a statement. 'Strengthening Sabahan representation will enhance the credibility and inclusiveness of our judiciary and reaffirm our national unity.' Chin said the upcoming retirements of Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim in July make it even more urgent to address the imbalance. While he welcomed the promotion of former Kota Kinabalu High Court judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng to the Court of Appeal, Chin noted that such progress remains the exception rather than the norm. He stressed the need for deliberate efforts to appoint more Sabahans to top judicial positions, including seats on the JAC. Chin proposed that respected retired judges from Sabah, such as former Chief Justice Tun Richard Malanjum and former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah, be appointed to the JAC. He said their distinguished service and deep understanding of Borneo's legal, cultural and societal context would bring critical value to the commission's deliberations. 'Their inclusion would not only provide regional balance but also strengthen the judiciary with perspectives grounded in justice, integrity, and independence,' he said. Chin also called for long-term reforms to address the persistent under-representation of Bornean judges at the appellate level. 'We need a fairer system that recognises the imbalance in numbers between Peninsular and Bornean judges,' he said. 'Right now, Bornean judges are structurally disadvantaged in promotion pathways simply because they are fewer in number.' To ensure equitable advancement, Chin urged the establishment of a fixed minimum number of judges from Sabah and Sarawak in the Court of Appeal and Federal Court. He also suggested that Bornean judges be assessed within their own promotion pools. He said such reforms would help retain Bornean judicial experience, especially in handling cases involving native laws, customary practices and regional issues - areas requiring local knowledge and sensitivity. Chin further urged the Government and judiciary to ensure that qualified Sabahans, including retired judges, are considered for all future appointments to the appellate courts and the JAC. 'This would reflect the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and uphold the constitutional rights of Sabahans to participate fully in national institutions,' he said. 'There's no shortage of qualified Sabahan judges, past and present. What we lack is a mechanism to ensure they are fairly considered and promoted based on merit and experience.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


Daily Express
10 hours ago
- Daily Express
G57 slams DAP Youth for defending activist Fahmi
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 Text Size: Zulkarnain (left) said Sabahans had filed numerous police reports against Fahmi (right) over the alleged insult to the Governor, but no legal action had followed so far. Kota Kinabalu: Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57) criticised DAP Youth Chief Woo Kah Leong for defending activist Fahmi Reza after he was barred from travelling abroad while remaining silent over alleged defamatory content aimed at the Sabah Governor. Its Chairman, Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar questioned Woo's selective outrage and accused him of turning a blind eye to Fahmi's alleged insults to Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah, Tun Musa Aman. Advertisement 'Yes, Woo has every right to defend Fahmi, but why hasn't he questioned why no legal action has been taken against Fahmi despite multiple police reports lodged by Sabahans?' He pointed out that Fahmi had allegedly humiliated the Governor through a caricature posted online, an act Zulkarnain described as 'a deliberate and malicious attack.' 'Does Woo's silence have anything to do with the fact that Tun Musa is a Sabahan?' he asked. Zulkarnain reminded the public that the Governor's appointment was made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, through a stringent vetting process, and that Tun Musa had never been convicted of any crime. 'Is Woo implying that His Majesty made a mistake in appointing Tun Musa?' he questioned. He further defended Tun Musa's credentials, calling him a respected corporate figure and the only Sabahan ever to own a bank prior to entering politics. G57 also took issue with what it called Fahmi's 'selective activism.' 'Why hasn't Fahmi ever named Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal as Sabah's top 'corrupt' despite Shafie having been remanded in a RM1.5 billion rural project corruption probe?' 'What about Bung Moktar's ongoing RM2.8 million graft case or Peter Anthony's conviction for cheating Universiti Malaysia Sabah?' 'Fahmi seems to be targeting only one individual. Is he being used by someone?' he questioned. Zulkarnain said Sabahans had filed numerous police reports against Fahmi over the alleged insult to the Governor, but no legal action had followed so far. 'What makes Fahmi so untouchable? Sabahans are watching. And they will make their decision when the time comes,' Zulkarnain added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia