Unemployment, low wages forcing Sabahans to leave, BN chairman warns
KOTA KINABALU: The lack of job opportunities and low salaries are fuelling labour migration out of Sabah, a veteran politician said.
Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said the absence of high-paying jobs was driving many young Sabahans — including those with higher education — to move to Peninsular Malaysia in search of employment.
"The reality is, Sabah is losing its skilled and professional human capital, which should have been the driving force behind its development.
"This is the result of weak policies, failed economic planning, and the absence of truly impactful large-scale investments," he said in a statement.
Citing a news report by Berita Harian in 2022, Bung said about 200,000 Sabahans were working in Peninsular Malaysia due to the lack of adequate opportunities at home.
According to the Department of Statistics, studies show the main factor behind this migration is the promise of higher wages — between RM2,000 and RM4,999 — outside the state.
Bung, who is the Kinabatangan MP, said that issues of unemployment and economic growth are clear indicators of a government's actual performance.
"While I do not dismiss the government's efforts, as a responsible party, we must speak the truth — a truth that cannot be concealed by merely pleasant statistics," he said.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, a total of 178,000 Sabahans — or 7.7 per cent — were unemployed, significantly higher compared to Sarawak (3.3 per cent), Kedah (1.7 per cent), and Kelantan (3.8 per cent).
"In Sabah, unemployment remains high, mega projects do not reach the people, and economic policies are stagnant. I demand a sincere explanation," he said.
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