Latest news with #SabahForSabahans
Free Malaysia Today
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Bung questions Kitingan's resolve on ‘Sabah for Sabahans'
Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan should have rejected BN as a 'Malaya party'. PETALING JAYA : Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin has cast doubt on Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan's commitment to the 'Sabah for Sabahans' slogan he often touts. Bung said STAR sided with the Barisan Nasional instead of Sabah-based Warisan after the 2018 general election resulted in a deadlock in the state assembly. 'If we think 'Sabah for Sabahans', Kitingan should have chosen Warisan and rejected the 'Malaya party' BN outright,' said the Sabah BN chief, according to the Borneo Post. Warisan went on to form the state government after Upko, a BN component, broke away to support Warisan president Shafie Apdal. Bung was hitting back at Kitingan for criticising BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who had described the 'Sabah for Sabahans' slogan as a divisive regionalistic sentiment. However, STAR deputy information chief Ardino Diris said Bung was being selective in recounting the 2018 political moves, pointing out that Warisan was also allies with Pakatan Harapan, also a West Malaysia-based coalition. 'In making that decision, we were looking at stability and governance, not empty slogans. Warisan, despite calling itself a local party, was aligned with peninsula-based PH. So, where was the real 'Sabah for Sabahans' then?' STAR is a key component in the ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, which forms the state government with the backing of PH and several Umno assemblymen. BN and PH have announced an alliance for the state polls which must be held by the end of the year, while talks are ongoing to include GRS in the pact.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Zahid's comments about ‘Sabah for Sabahans' may backfire on Umno, says analyst
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently called for Sabahans to discard the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment in favour of national unity. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's call for Sabahans to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's call for Sabahans to move past the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment in favour of national unity could backfire on the party ahead of the upcoming state election, an analyst said. James Chin of the University of Tasmania said Zahid's comments were likely to rile many Sabahans who remain upset over long-standing issues, particularly concerning undocumented migrants. James Chin. 'Many Sabahans are still angry over the 'pendatang tanpa izin' (PTI) issue, and they remember Umno was in power when it happened,' he said, in reference to the presence of undocumented migrants on the state's electoral roll when Barisan Nasional was in power. 'He (Zahid) should be the last person to talk about Sabah identity,' Chin told FMT. A 2012 royal commission into illegal immigrants in the state concluded that 'there was a clandestine exercise involving senior officers in the NRD, Sabah, who apparently acted under orders from their political superiors. 'This clandestine exercise involved illegal activities relating to the processing and issuance of Malaysian identification documents to illegal immigrants in pursuit of a political agenda.' On Monday, Zahid called the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment 'divisive'. He said Sabah must work closely with Putrajaya to ensure its continued development. The slogan, however, has long been associated with calls for greater state autonomy, especially over immigration, development and resource control, and remains politically resonant in Sabah. Awang Azman Pawi Universiti Malaya's Azman Awang Pawi, however, said Zahid's remarks were not entirely misplaced, noting that defections and political instability had cut across party lines in Sabah. 'Sabahans can accept this, especially after many past defections. Umno is not the only party that tried to mount a coup; local parties have done it too,' he said. Awang Azman said Zahid's remark was simply an attempt to unite Sabah with the national agenda. 'He wants Sabah to be part of the national mainstream without losing its identity. It's an inclusive approach to rebuild trust,' he said. Oh Ei Sun. 'Rejecting 'Sabah for Sabahans' puts national unity at the forefront, but an inclusive government that respects Sabah's rights can rebuild trust and win support in the coming election.' Oh Ei Sun, a principal adviser at Pacific Research Centre, said Zahid's statement was unlikely to impact voters significantly. 'Sabah voters are more concerned with infrastructure and development than slogans,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Why the ‘Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment matters
The campaign trail for the upcoming Sabah election is heating up—even more intensely than the scorching weather gripping the state. Maverick politician Jeffrey Kitingan has fired the opening salvo following Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's announcement that Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan will align with local parties under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition to control the state for the next five years. Zahid's tone reeks of political arrogance—an extension of the colonial mentality that has lingered since the British exited North Borneo in 1963. Once again, Sabah is being treated not as an equal partner in the Federation, but as a political pawn to be played with at the discretion of Peninsular-led coalitions. This is a state election, yet national parties behave as though Sabah were their political sandbox. The root of the problem? A long-standing weakness in local leadership, which has allowed external forces to dictate Sabah's political direction with little resistance. Kitingan's rallying cry— 'Sabah for Sabahans'—has struck a raw nerve, stirring the hornet's nest. It resonates with growing sentiment among Sabahans who feel increasingly marginalised, manipulated and misrepresented in national politics. Whether this marks a turning point or just more political theatre remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Sabahans are frustrated, and this election may well shape the state's political destiny for years to come. The politics of federalism in Malaysia has hardly changed. It still relies on subtle coercion—intimidating the people into submission through fear and promises of development, only if they align with the ruling federal coalition. We saw this clearly during the 2020 Sabah state election, when then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, representing the Perikatan Nasional government, toured the state with a familiar message: Sabah would receive more development funds only if it aligned with the federal government. Five years on, Sabah still has the highest poverty rate in Malaysia. Yes, blame must also fall on local leaders who continue to fall for the same trap—choosing short-term perks and positions over long-term state autonomy and prosperity. Their willingness to trade Sabah's future for ministerial posts or positions in GLCs has kept the vicious cycle going. Sabahans are politically fatigued. Many of those I've spoken to express a deep sense of disillusionment with the current political landscape. There's growing frustration with the same recycled faces—leaders who have become wealthy, complacent and increasingly out of touch. The old guard, once seen as defenders of Sabah's rights, are now viewed as easily manipulated by federal leaders, and willing to compromise the state's interests for personal gain and fleeting power. Amid this disillusionment, a quiet but steady hope is emerging: a desire for young, independent candidates to rise and reshape Sabah's political future. Voters are looking for fresh voices—unbound by party baggage and unafraid to speak truth. Sabah doesn't just need a change in government. It needs a generational reset. Sabah and Sarawak are, without doubt, the two richest states in Malaysia—abundant in oil, gas, minerals, and other natural resources. And federal leaders are well aware of this. This is precisely why they are reluctant to allow these two independent-minded states full control over their own wealth. The long-standing dispute between Sarawak and Petronas over ownership and control of oil and gas is a clear example. While Petronas is often portrayed as the entity that 'lays the golden egg' for the nation, this is far from the truth. The real golden goose is not Petronas—but the resource-rich lands of Sabah and Sarawak. Without them, Petronas would have far less to extract, and the nation far less to profit from. Yet, while wealth flows to Putrajaya, Sabah and Sarawak remain underdeveloped, underfunded, and politically undermined. This imbalance is no longer justifiable—nor sustainable. Umno ruled Sabah for more than a decade but has not taken Sabah out of its poverty levels during its rule. There is a lack of investment that create jobs leading to the labour force migrating to Peninsular Malaysia in search of jobs and better pay. Sabah's vast potential has been squandered under leadership more focused on political survival than meaningful development. The people deserve better than recycled politicians, broken promises and temporary fixes. The slogan 'Sabah for Sabahans' resonates with the people who have long felt sidelined in the national development agenda. It captures a deep yearning—for dignity, for control over the state's own wealth, and for an end to decades of being treated as second-class within the Malaysian federation. For too long, Sabah has been governed by decisions made in Putrajaya, often by leaders who see the state as a political pawn rather than an equal partner. The call for 'Sabah for Sabahans' is more than a slogan—it is a demand for change. But slogans alone are not enough. If it is to be a true catalyst for reform, it must be backed by courageous leadership, grassroots mobilisation, and a clear, actionable roadmap for autonomy, transparency and equitable development. The question is no longer whether the people are ready—many already are. The real question is whether the leaders who champion this cause will rise to meet the moment with integrity, unity and the political will to finally put Sabah first. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Free Malaysia Today
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Nothing divisive about ‘Sabah for Sabahans', says state PH chief
Sabah PH chief Ewon Benedick said slogans mattered little if the regular issues faced by Sabahans continue to be unresolved after decades. PETALING JAYA : Sabah Pakatan Harapan chief Ewon Benedick has rejected Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's claim that state-centric slogans like 'Sabah for Sabahans' are divisive. Ewon said he saw no issue with such slogans and sentiments used by many Sabahans, adding that he, in fact, found it patriotic, Utusan Borneo reported. 'I don't see any issue with slogans being used like 'Sabah for Sabahans', 'Sabah First', 'Sabah is Our Home' and so on. 'As long as it's aimed at fostering unity among Sabahans as well as cooperation and unity with all Malaysians, we should continue them,' the Upko president was quoted as saying. Ewon believes that local aspirations must be the foundation of any grand coalition in Sabah, but said such an alliance should not be limited to local parties. Nonetheless, he said, slogans mattered little compared with the ability of the ruling administration to resolve issues faced by Sabahans. 'I'm more inclined to focus on how our political alliances can effectively resolve the issues the people face. 'We can chant our slogans as loud as we want, but if the basic issues the people face still can't be resolved after decades, then it remains as a mere slogan,' he said. On Monday, Zahid had criticised the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment as divisive and counterproductive, arguing that maintaining close ties with the federal government was key to the state's prosperity and development. The Umno president drew backlash from Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan, who said Sabah was never meant to be a subordinate state but an equal partner with Sarawak and Malaya in the federation of Malaysia. Kitingan also appeared to warn of Sabah possibly leaving the federation, saying this would ultimately be up to Sabahans.
Free Malaysia Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-minister defends Zahid over ‘Sabah for Sabahans' criticism
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said leaders must look at issues as a country and a people. PETALING JAYA : Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has defended Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan hit out at the Barisan Nasional chairman for criticising the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment. Zaid said Kitingan's reaction was typical of Sabah leaders who take any opportunity to discredit federal leaders for their own failings, especially near elections. 'Sabah's poverty and lack of progress were mainly due to its elected leaders, who prioritised themselves, leaving the people behind. 'Who manages Yayasan Sabah? Who were the chief ministers all these years? (Were they) from Semenanjung?' he said in a post on X. Kitingan had lashed out at Zahid for describing the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment as divisive. He said Sabahans did not need the permission or validation of federal leaders to assert what was rightfully theirs, and that Sabah was never meant to be a subordinate state but an equal partner with Sarawak and Malaya in the federation of Malaysia. He also appeared to warn of Sabah possibly leaving the federation, saying this would ultimately be up to Sabahans. Zahid had criticised the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment as divisive and counterproductive, arguing that maintaining close ties with the federal government was key to the state's prosperity and development. Zaid backed Zahid's remarks, saying leaders must look at issues as a country and a people. 'Stoking the fear of Sabah leaving the federation when they are unhappy with something or the federal leaders worries nobody. Where can Sabah go? 'Our country will not progress if it does not get rid of its obsession with race, religion, and regionalism,' the former Kota Bharu MP said.
