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."
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New Straits Times
4 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."
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New Straits Times
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Daily Express
5 hours ago
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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
