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Daily Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah has many lightweight politicians
Published on: Sunday, June 01, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 01, 2025 By: John Lo Text Size: Many Leaders Don't Appreciate Problems of Majority of Sabahans. Worse. Some are plain ignorant, couldn't careless or greedy and selfish.[1] Leaders from Malaya: Advertisement They fly in their private jets, others in business class [some with marauding and predatory businessmen in tow], welcomed at the airport, ushered into KKIA VIP lounge, given VIPs treatment by subservient Sabahans. Chauffeur driven in expensive limousine or Lexus 4x4. Can't feel the bumps and potholes on the bad roads. Expensive five star meals. Give rousing speeches, promises of pie in the sky with their sleek tongues, but with little relevance to the plights of Sabahans. VIP send offs at KKIA VIP lounge. Wave good-byes to their Sabah macai. All the promises in their speeches to Sabahans forgotten before they enter their planes. Next time, don't listen to their words. Watch their body language. To them, Sabah is only a small piece of their political jigsaw, not 1/3 partner of Malaysia, that needs to be controlled and owned for their national political strategy and to fuel their personal national political ambitions. To them, Sabah political leaders are like tea bags, needed when useful, after use, dust bin in they go. Ask yourselves, how many leaders from Malaya did really care for Sabahans? Look at the poverty in Sabah, the huge disparity of development in Sabah and Malaya. Sabah would have been developed if only the Federal Government has devoted 10pc of fund and efforts that it has poured into Selangor for Sabah. There lies your answer. Any 'naughty' Sabah leaders, especially 'branch managers' of Malayan parties, would be cast off swiftly. This has been ongoing since MA63. Can Sabahans blame them? No. They have their own political base, state and federal political ambitions to worry! Blame our leaders who have boxed themselves and Sabah into this unenviable rat-hole, all because they have failed their duties to Sabahans. They have downgraded Sabah's position to inconsequence and irrelevance politically and economically. To the Malayan leaders, how important is Sabah in comparison with other states? Very unimportant for a simple reason, Sabah leaders can be 'sorted' out easily, submissive and undemanding. Reflections of these are on the shabby treatments, among many others, in the allocation of development fund and total lack of representation in Federal agencies and GLCs for Sabah. For that, Sabahans have suffered for it for decades. [2] Very Few Sabah leaders can stand up to Malayan leaders. Rare. Very few. Not enough of them! Most Sabah Leaders are no match compared with Leaders from Malaya. Sabah has too many light weight political leaders. There is a giant vacuum, a very severe shortage of statesmanship among Sabah leaders. Urgently required: 'Sabah for Sabahans' Leaders with Quality. Are there such leaders? Very, very few! How many leaders are expounding their economic ideas to make our lives better in the coming election? Our only hope is that the 2025 election will bless us with a few more. What Leadership Qualities Sabah must have? [1] Decent, Principled, Upright, Assertive with Wisdom and Pragmatism, Able to Command Respect from Malayan Leaders in Federal Government. Example? As a matter of principle, Rafizi has just resigned as Economy Minister. He has refused to cling on to power. No Sabah equivalent. [2] Appreciative of economic plights of Sabahans from the B40, rural farmers, fishermen and young families whose meagre incomes are being eroded by incessant inflation at an alarming speed. How many care Sabah children are walking through mud and rain on empty stomachs to schools? [3] In depth understanding of Sabah's deep-rooted and long outstanding economic malaises, especially the loss of economic ownership to non-Sabahans. [4] Assertive leadership on 40% net revenue share, TSA 2012, MA63 Rights, equitable representation as 1/3 partner in all important Federal Agencies, GLCs, GLICs and Statutory Bodies. All these are Malaya centric. Equally important, Sabah must have a say in all important Federal Policies, especially monetary, fiscal, investment, industrialization. [5] Stop leakages. Tighten and expand collection of revenue: So much resources, so much poverty. This situation must be obvious to anyone who cares. Leakages from corruption, careless procurements, poor collection of taxes, senseless spending. A lot of potential revenue can be collected. Masidi is doing a good job in plugging many of these loopholes, hence the impressive increase of state revenue. This must continue. [6] Stop GLCs' massive Bleeding. Indifferent chairmen and directors, poor and bad governance have bled away billions. Hajiji and Masidi have initiated revamp with an oversight committee and appointed some good/qualified people in SMJ Energy, Sabah Energy, SOGDC, Sabah Credit, POIC LD. This will require extraordinary leadership quality with political courage to continue the revamp. Sorting out the GLCs will be equivalent to solving more than 50% of Sabah's economic problems. The GLCs, mostly not performing, are in all important economic sectors and have monopolies. Sabah's economy will be great if the GLCs can be transformed to perform. If each of the 250 GLCs, on average, can contribute Rm20m dividend, this will amount to RM5b to Sabah's revenue. If each GLC can generate 10 meaningful jobs for, it will come to 2,500. 100 will be 25,000! We can say good bye to unemployment. The multiplier effects will tremendous! Sabah will be great again. Absolutely possible 1: KPJ Hospital Group [Johor SEDCO] makes RM350m profit, has 15,000 employees. Its market capitalization of RM1.9b. How many Sabah's GLC can match KPJ's profits? Absolutely possible 2: Many Sabah's GLCs have many monopolies, free land, Sabah Government's backing and special concessions and approvals. But they must monetize all these advantages. Grow the Economy, Manage the Resources, Retain and Attract more investments. Sabah leaders must grow the economy as a top priority. Grow and expand the economy is the ultimate solution to solve Sabah perennial problems of infrastructures and unemployment. In trying to grow the Sabah's economy, Hajiji has laid the foundation for Sabah's economic restructure. Substantial progress so far, especially in oil/gas and manufacturing. He has also attracted RM58b investments. Deeply saddening that a very tiny number of leaders, up to now, have shared their ideas on growing the economy, managing Sabah's resources for Sabahans, retain investment already in Sabah and attract more investment. Steering the Sabah's economy onto a growth path will be very challenging in the very uncertain global, multipolar world. Both World Bank and IMF have downgraded global growth. Malaysia too. Sabah will be impacted. No escape. Good economic leadership can minimize these impacts. Give a Strong Madate to the next Government. A weak government will mean stagnant economy and lots of uncertainties. Worse, it will be subject to manipulations and instability. There may be more blackmails or attempts to overthrow of our government. Unlikely that a weak government can undertake or continue the economic transformation. Sabahans must give a strong mandate to the next government to solve all the perennial problems in Sabah, claims of MA63 rights from Federal Government and tackle global uncertainties. My Appeal to Leaders of all major Sabah Parties. Reduce fighting, focus your energy and plans on how you will manage Sabah's economy. Sabahans deserve better deals from the Federal Government, better lives, more job and investment opportunities and most of all a more secured future. We don't want leaders only good with empty promises. We need statesmen who are well versed in economic management and who can deliver a better future for all Sabahans. Last and most important, Sabah must have leaders who can stand tall with Federal leaders, maintain a respectful and collaborative relationship.
Daily Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah-based party must manage Sabah
Published on: Sunday, May 18, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 18, 2025 By: Datuk John Lo Text Size: 2025 Election: peninsula-based parties vs Sabah-based parties? 'BN, PH to join forces for Sabah polls.' 2nd Headline: Anwar optimistic about PH-BN-GRS cooperation in Sabah polls Advertisement Will it be [a] PH+ BN or [b] PH+BN+GRS? [a] means GRS will either go solo or team with some other Sabah parties. Right now, every Sabahan want 'Sabah for Sabahans', 'Sabahans First Policy'. No two ways about it. The momentum is a tidal wave that can't be stopped. It is what every Sabahan wants. What is ultimately most important to the last Sabahan is that the next Government in Sabah must be firmly in the hands of a Sabah-based party. Sabah parties can support PH/BN in Parliament. These Malayan parties must let Sabahans manage our Sabah. 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga'! Is non-negotiable Advertisement Some 40 years of history has proven it is not in Sabah's interest for a non-Sabah party to rule. Proxy ruler is no longer acceptable. We don't want a branch manager/executive of a Malayan party to lord over us. 2025 Election: It is About Every Sabahans' Economic Future: The 2025 Sabah Election must be [1] Sabah for Sabahans. Sabahans First Policy. [2] Sabahans must be in charge, answerable to Sabahan voters, not some outsiders. [3] Can Sabahans trust nominees from a Malaya party to manage Sabah? The answer is in Sabah's last 40 years of economic woes. The outcome of 2025 election will impact every Sabahan's future, for good or for bad. We have controlled out destiny. Is Sabah going for MA63 rights overly strongly? Just wondering. Behind his genteel mannerism, quiet demeanour, CM Hajiji has succeeded in regaining some MA63 rights. Are there some discomforts that Sabah will become another Sarawak in demanding rights? Interesting questions. 2025 Election: Kita Rumah Kita Jaga or abdicate our duties? Sarawak had jaga her rumah well. For the last 40 years, Sabah has effectively abdicated/abandoned rumah kita for others to jaga. Our leaders have had delusionary power only, having to listen and obey instructions from outside. Their power has been delusionary. Result? Sabah is the worst-off state, loss of economic ownership, refugees in our resource rich state. In 2025 election, the option is very clear. Do we want to be masters of rumah kita or mere squatters? Do Sabahans want Proxy Branch Managers from Malayan Parties to control Sabah? Proxy rulers orProxy Branch Managers of Malayan parties, make no mistake about it, are junior executives with little power. They are 100% answerable to their bosses. Voices of Sabahans don't count. Not important! They will do the bidding of their bosses in KL at the drop of a hat. Autonomy? They cannot fool us. It is all a make believe. They shouldn't fool themselves into delusion. We want real Sabahans in charge? Can Sabahans allow Sabah Proxy Branch Managers from Malayan Parties to manage? Definite NO. It is a very bad idea. What will happen to: [1] Racial and religious politics. We must protect our Sabahan way of life. Sabah's most precious gift is racial and religious harmony. Long may they continue. No doubt about it. Certainly, we don't want the invasion of Malayan style racial and religious politics into Sabah. Disastrous! It will destroy our fundamental way of life and our family relationships, especially many Sabahans who have multi-race and religion families. [2] Hajiji's government has regained some rights. Most important are in oil and gas and power generation. Sabah has now a burgeoning oil and gas industry. Many Sabahan companies have investments and a large number of young Sabahans are into oil and gas. A lot more investments are coming too. We don't want to lose it. Will the Proxy Branch Managers from Malayan Parties of Malayan parties revert the growth of our oil and gas industry back to meaningless nothings like before? Hajiji has got back power generation. Now ECoS can approve power generations within months. Before, no approval even after 18 years! And Sabah had no say in the power rates and who should get it. IPPs were given without Sabah's consent. [3] SLS's fight for 40pc net revenue share. SLS's fight defines Sabah as a 1/3 component partner in Malaysia. In addition, billions and billions are involved. Irrespective who is PM, the Federal Government is seen to be using delaying tactics blatantly. Promises, promises, promises only. Even the latest gift of RM600m is nothing. Just avoiding payment to Sabah. What type of money are we talking about? Billions, tens of billions! Will the Proxy Branch Managers from Malayan Parties have the guts to fight for Sabah against their bosses on this 40pc net revenue share? If you think so, better think again! Cos you are suffering from a massive incurable sickness of delusion. [4] Sabar's fight for The Territorial Sea Act 2012. Sabah rights of 200 nautical miles of EEZ [Economic Exclusive Zone] have been reduced to mere 3 nautical miles by this act. The economic wealth in our EEC that have been taken away is worth tens of billions. This includes minerals and potentials of the Blue Economy initiatives that Hajiji has started. You trust Proxy Branch Managers from Malayan Parties to fight for Sabah on this critically important issue? [5] SLS's fight for 40% Sabar- The Sea Act 2012 Carbon Trading Sabah Professional Council SYBIL Malaya cannot afford see Sabah be like Sarawak Sabah parties, unite Sabahans must decide We wantProxy Branch Managers from Malayan Parties appointed by Malaya or our own Executive Chairman and Maangement for Sabah? Can the MalayanProxy Branch Managers from Malayan Parties protect Sabahans' right or obey instructions from Malaya? Malayan predators will devour Sabah. The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
