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Daily Express
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Days of these politicians are over
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 Text Size: Sabar committee posing with political leaders and representatives. Kota Kinabalu: Sabahans are fed up with politicians who make big promises during elections but forget about them once they get into power. That was the clear message from stakeholders at the recently held 'Sabah Voices to Action – Shaping Sabah's Future Together' final townhall initiative which presented a detailed wish list to political parties preparing for the coming state election. Among political parties present were Star Sabah, SAPP, PBS, Parti Impian Sabah, Warisan, Gagasan Rakyat, LDP and Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri. The wish list is not just any ordinary document. It is a thick 60-page report packed with 117 specific suggestions on how to fix Sabah's problems in schools, hospitals, roads and government services. The report was put together after three months of listening to ordinary Sabahans from all walks of life. Sabah Law Society's (SLS) Immediate Past President Datuk Roger Chin told politicians they need to stop treating their election promises like throwaway lines. 'If you are brave enough, put it in your manifesto and please do not do what happened in the past, which is by saying that your manifesto is not cast in stone, it is not the Bible and you do not have to comply with it. 'In today's day and age of the Internet, the public will hold you accountable,' he said, adding that today's voters will not stay quiet if politicians break their promises. The report comes from a citizen movement called Sabah Voices to Action organised by Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR) and other community groups. Over three months, they held talks in towns across Sabah including Kota Marudu, Keningau, Tawau and Sandakan, listening to what people really want. The report covers four main areas that affect daily life, namely education, healthcare, roads and infrastructure and how the government runs things. For schools, Sabahans want a separate Sabah Education Ministry that can hire teachers locally, buy school equipment without waiting for Federal approval and create lessons that teach children about Sabah's history and culture. They also want better support for rural schools and children without proper documents. For healthcare, people want a Sabah Health Ministry to have programmes specifically for the State's needs. This includes better pay and career opportunities for doctors and nurses, more medical services in rural areas, online consultations for remote patients and help with travel costs for people who need treatment far from home. Professional Architect cum Sabah Professional Council President Rizal Ahmad Banjar assured politicians that experts are ready to help turn these ideas into reality. 'By virtue of us here, we can provide that assistance. 'We have professionals here and we are ever ready to assist you, whoever is going to be in power,' he said. Institut Sinaran former Chief Executive Officer William Pan suggested starting small rather than trying to do everything at once. 'There are things which we can achieve on the short term and in the midterm and the long term. 'Even in education, there are spaces to start with. So, start with those spaces,' he said. Sabah Medical Association President cum former Sabah Health Director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi addressed politicians who might be worried about taking on technical issues like healthcare and education. 'In Sabah, we have got a lot of people who can help you. 'When you put it in your manifesto, it does not mean that you will be the one doing it. But you will be the one making sure that somebody is doing it. 'Whether you are from political parties or non-governmental organisations, we are all doing it for the people,' she said, pointing out that everyone is working toward the same goal. The report also tackles Sabah's infrastructure problems with a six-step plan for building and maintaining roads, bridges and buildings. This includes proper planning, fair bidding processes, releasing money on time and regular upkeep. For government services, Sabahans want major changes including laws to control political funding, open bidding for all government contracts that people can track online and independent bodies to oversee spending. They also want government-linked companies to hire based on merit rather than political connections. Sabar trustee Datuk Ujang Sulani wrapped up the event by reminding everyone that Sabah has been having these conversations for decades. 'Sabah has always been rich not only in resources, but in spirit. But prosperity remains elusive. 'We must go beyond dialogue. This is no longer about being heard. It is time for us to be heeded, he said. He connected the current push to the unfulfilled promises of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, saying it should mean true freedom not only from colonialism, but from dependency, bureaucracy and neglect. * 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
Borneo Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Groups present 117-policy roadmap ahead of state elections
Representatives from SABAR presenting a copy of the 'Sabahans' Aspirations and Demands' to representatives from STAR Sabah, SAPP, PBS, Parti Impian Sabah, Warisan, PGRS, LDP and Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri. KOTA KINABALU (June 23): In a powerful display of civic engagement and participatory policymaking, more than 300 stakeholders gathered at Wisma Wanita for the final town hall of the 'Sabah Voices to Action – Shaping Sabah's Future Together' initiative. The event marked the official launch of the 'Sabahans' Aspirations and Demands' report — an unprecedented 60 plus pages of policy document outlining 117 actionable recommendations across 21 key areas in Education, Healthcare, Public Infrastructure and Good Governance. Compiled through a three-month consultative process involving diverse communities across the state, the report is now publicly accessible in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese at Launched in January and formally executed between March and June 2025, this non-partisan, citizen-driven movement — spearheaded by the Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR) in collaboration with civil society partners — was designed to empower ordinary Sabahans to voice their priorities and shape meaningful policy reforms in the lead-up to the 2025 Sabah State Election. The initiative employed a multi-platform strategy to reach a broad spectrum of Sabahans through eight widely streamed podcast episodes, more than 30 published articles in a local daily, and 12 regional town halls in districts such as Kota Marudu, Keningau, Tawau, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu. Over 500 individuals — including professionals, educators, healthcare workers, youth, and civil society leaders — participated in the formulation of the report. In his opening remarks, Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa, chairman of the Board of SABAR, emphasized that the document reflects the aspirations and concerns of everyday Sabahans, gathered through a genuine grassroots engagement process. While acknowledging that it may not represent every voice, he asserted that it serves as a powerful foundation for further inquiry, dialogue and collaborative action. 'This is not a final blueprint,' he said, 'but a compelling starting point.' He extended a sincere appeal to political leaders across the spectrum: 'Please listen with open hearts. The voices you hear today are not partisan — they represent the shared hopes of a people who deeply love this state and want to see it flourish. This is an opportunity to demonstrate real commitment to participatory governance and people-centred leadership. I urge you to reflect these priorities meaningfully in your election manifestos.' He continued by acknowledging the roots of Sabah's challenges, stating, 'We must understand that the problems we face today did not arise overnight. They are the result of decades of accumulated neglect, flawed policies and missed opportunities. Now is not the time for finger-pointing. It is time to set politics aside and embrace shared responsibility. We are not here to complain; we are here to build and be part of the solution.' Zainie concluded with a call for courage and collective action, reminding the audience that what matters most is a willingness to act — decisively and responsibly — for the future of Sabah's next generation. Among the report's major recommendations is the call to establish a Sabah Ministry of Education with autonomy over procurement of infrastructure and educational resources, teacher recruitment and training, curriculum development and assessment. It advocates for universal access to quality preschool education, targeted support for rural and undocumented students, strategic actions on STEM and TVET, and greater bilingual proficiency through the Dual Language Programme. The document stresses the importance of including Sabah-centric content in the national curriculum and ensuring that teachers are locally recruited, equipped with innovative teaching methods and digital tools, and protected from excessive administrative workloads. In the area of healthcare, the report proposes the establishment of a Sabah Ministry of Health to design and implement state-specific programs, complementing federal initiatives. It calls for improved welfare, incentives and clear career progression for healthcare workers, expanded health services to rural and underserved communities, introduction of technology such as telehealth, and travel assistance for patients needing treatment outside their districts. The report also recommends increased training opportunities for post-basic, allied health sciences and specialist development to address Sabah's unique healthcare challenges more effectively. On public infrastructure, the report introduces a six-stage development cycle encompassing inclusive needs assessment, integrated planning, transparent procurement, sufficient and timely disbursement of funds, accompanied by efficient implementation, regular maintenance and proactive rehabilitation. It calls for a Sabah Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, centralized project management, digital procurement platforms and independent oversight mechanisms. To ensure sustainability and relevance, it emphasizes the importance of involving local contractors and communities in both planning and implementation. Emergency preparedness, climate resilience and long-term planning are also identified as critical components of effective infrastructure development. In the area of good governance, the report recommends wide-ranging structural reforms. These include the enactment of Political Financing and Procurement Acts, mandatory open tenders with real-time public tracking, and the establishment of independent procurement and audit commissions. It urges the depoliticization of appointments in government-linked companies (GLCs) and public service, standardization of asset declarations and key performance indicators, and decentralization of fiscal and development planning powers under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). A macro-level governance framework is proposed to restore public trust and improve accountability in the management of GLCs and public resources. Lim Hock Song, organising chairperson of the initiative, reiterated the non-partisan nature of the movement. 'This is about people. It's about the wellbeing of Sabahans and the future we want to build together,' he declared. He emphasized that the report, once released, would take on a life of its own — as the collective intellectual property of the people of Sabah and an open-source resource for all. 'It is not a final blueprint, but a living document. We hope Sabahans will embrace it as a shared starting point, from which we can build together toward a brighter future for every community across our state.' Delivering a stirring closing remark, SABAR trustee Datuk Ujang Sulani placed the initiative within Sabah's long journey toward self-determination. 'Sabah has always been rich — not only in resources, but in spirit. But prosperity remains elusive. We must go beyond dialogue. This is no longer about being heard. It is time for us to be heeded,' he declared. Referring to the unfulfilled promises of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, he added, 'That agreement must translate into true freedom — not only from colonialism, but from dependency, bureaucracy and neglect.' Ujang concluded by urging all present to treat this final town hall not as an ending, but as a beginning. SABAR urges all political parties and candidates contesting the 2025 Sabah State Election to give thoughtful consideration to these aspirations and demands, and to reflect them clearly and meaningfully in their upcoming election manifestos. The full 'Sabahans' Aspirations and Demands' report is now available at
Daily Express
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Policy document wraps up session
Published on: Monday, June 23, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 23, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Zainie (centre) with Lim on his left and participants consisting of lawyers, local leaders and activists. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's civil society platform, Sabar (Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights) wrapped up town hall sessions under the 'Sabah Voices to Action' series with the message that the future lies in empowering youth and demanding accountability from politicians. It was the final of their eight engagements across Sabah which saw over 300 participants converge at Wisma Wanita, Sunday. Sabar Chairman Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa expressed pride in presenting a document of aspirations and actions derived from four months of listening to the people. He said the policy document will be submitted to all parties contesting the coming state election, in the expectation that the proposals would be adopted in their manifestos and more importantly, implemented after the polls. 'We don't want to see a repeat of past promises that were abandoned after elections. This initiative is about building a new political culture that instills responsibility and follows through,' he said. Looking ahead, Zainie revealed that Sabar would shift focus toward engaging young Sabahans in the next phase of their work. Advertisement 'We want to walk with the youth, shape their political mindset, and help them understand the importance of choosing leaders who keep their word. 'They must know how to pick representatives who genuinely deliver on their promises. That's how we build a better Sabah, one election at a time,' he said. He hoped the manifesto guide crafted from these town hall sessions would serve not just this election cycle, but for many to come. SAPP Women's Youth Wing Chief, Yvonne Yong Yit Phung, hailed the initiative as a much-needed departure from the typical political echo chamber, calling for more youth to step forward and help shape Sabah's future. Yvonne praised the organisers for encouraging proactive dialogue and engaging youth in meaningful policy discussions. 'The way questions were framed, how discussions were guided, it was very professional. It showed how much the youth care, and how much potential they have if given the platform,' she said. Vice President of Borneo History, Sahar Piasin, 65, welcomed the shift in focus at the final town hall, noting a refreshing change from previous events. 'Unlike before, which mostly centred around MA63, this time the emphasis was more on youth development through education, rural empowerment, and infrastructure. That made it very interesting,' he said. Sahar noted that speakers appeared to deliberately target students and young people, which, in turn, deserves the attention of Sabahan parents. 'They weren't just asking for opportunities, they were being spoken to directly about the future of their children. That made a real impact,' he added. Borneo History was invited to host an exhibition at the event, showcasing historical documents and treaties, some of which were made available for sale. * 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
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabar launches 117-point report from public consultations
Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 Text Size: Zainie and other leaders and stakeholders. KOTA KINABALU: More than 300 stakeholders gathered at Wisma Wanita for the final town hall of 'Sabah Voices to Action,' where Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (Sabar) officially launched a 60-page policy report outlining 117 public demands ahead of the 2025 Sabah state election. The report, compiled through a three-month consultation across Sabah, covers 21 areas including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and governance, and is accessible online in three languages. Sabar chairman Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa urged politicians to take the document seriously, calling it a grassroots effort that reflects the real concerns of Sabahans and a foundation for collaborative reform. Key proposals include the creation of Sabah-led education and health ministries, decentralised infrastructure planning, and sweeping reforms in governance, such as political financing laws and transparent tenders. The organisers emphasised that the report is a living, non-partisan document meant to guide inclusive policymaking, with Sabar calling on all parties to reflect its recommendations in their election manifestos. The Bahasa Malaysia, English, and Chinese versions of the report are now available for download here. * 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
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Poor governance of GLCs to blame: Managed by some people of questionable integrity and knowledge
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Datuk John Lo (right) shared his opinions in a 'Sabah Voices to Action' podcast with former Sabah Law Society President Datuk Roger Chin (left) with Kopi Tiam Council hosts Adi and Haffisz organised by NGO Sabar recently on 'Economic Imperative on Stringent Governance for Sabah's GLCs'. Kota Kinabalu: Many of the 250 GLCs continue to lose millions of ringgit yearly. In Kota Kinabalu alone, most of the failed big projects are GLC joint ventures with non-Sabahan companies. 'What it tells us is that all these GLCs have very, very poor governance and this is the whole issue in Sabah. They are managed by some chairmen and board of directors who are of questionable integrity or knowledge. So things just roll along without good performance.' Advertisement 'If all or even 75 per cent of GLCs are doing well, the State government should have been receiving billions of ringgit in term of returns every year because the assets controlled by the GLCs are in the hundreds of billions of ringgit,' said Datuk John Lo, retired banker and advisor to the State Government in his role in the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) as well as the Institute for Development Studies (IDS). 'Even if you take three or four per cent returns, we should be getting at least three, four or five, or six billion.' He shared his opinions in a 'Sabah Voices to Action' podcast with former Sabah Law Society President Datuk Roger Chin with Kopi Tiam Council hosts Adi and Haffisz organised by NGO Sabar recently on 'Economic Imperative on Stringent Governance for Sabah's GLCs'. Lo said these GLCs have failed to deliver decent returns from their assets. 5 per cent is acceptable and 10 per cent is considered good. If only the GLCs can generate 5 per cent or better from their assets, the Sabah Government would have several more billions of dividends each year! He said 5 per cent return on assets shouldn't be an issue as the cost of capital assets like land is practically free. Private sector can generate much better than 5 per cent even though they have to pay for land at market prices and to service interest for loans. Compare this to the RM143m the Sabah Government received from the few performing GLCs, of which RM50m was from SMJ Energy. Lo said Johor's KPJ HealthCare Bhd with 43.38 per cent owned by Johor Corp and listed on Bursa Malaysia with a total share value RM1.96 billion, is an example for Sabah's GLCs to emulate. 'KPJ HealthCare Bhd can deliver more dividend than all Sabah's GLCs Profit with more than RM350 million!' Sabah GLCs are also very fond of signing JVs with non-Sabahan companies for whatever reason. 'We need to cultivate homegrown businessmen rather than making or adding money to some non-Sabahan entities instead of within Sabah,' Lo said. 'My point is this, if the GLCs are successful, we could have listed on Bursa Malaysia – we don't need to raise so much government funds. 'Number two, we don't need to depend on the Government budget much. We can raise a lot of money by the billions by going to the market. Datuk Roger Chin said the traditional type of JV is literally over a piece of land. What happens is that the GLC ends up with 10 shoplots as an example. 'If the GLC had developed the prime piece of land, say in Kota Kinabalu, by itself, it would have gotten a lot more money and assets. 'I understand it takes a lot of money to develop the project. The GLC may not have the funds, but funds could have been raised by other ways. 'I have always found it amazing how they can just settle for 10 shoplots. Looking at all the JVs signed, you will realize that is actually like that.' Lo adding to Roger, said: 'If you have a piece of real estate that is very valuable, why does that GLC need to enter into a JV with somebody? They could have easily monetised this. 'You can actually raise funds because you already got a very valuable asset. Why do we need another company in the real estate business to come in? We have a lot of Sabahan developers who can do it. Now why do we need to enter into a JV with these people from outside?' Roger: 'For me, GLCs have a purpose. They are for industries or sectors that no one wanted to go into. Like a milk factory or a cement plant. 'They should only be in sectors where the private sector is not better than them. So they have to grow to be better than the private sector in these industries.' According to Lo, in Sabah two things have been happening for years. 'GLCs are killing the private sector in many areas. 'Our private sector have already been more or less wiped out. Our private sector has no chance to really develop. Worse is that with change of governments, one of the first victims will be the private sector players. 'Oh, you supported the last government so I kill you. Our political leaders they must stop this. 'We cannot have economic growth on a sustainable basis if you keep killing your own Sabahan entrepreneurs. More so, you kill Sabahan entrepreneurs and bring in outsiders. This is very, very serious. The mindset must change. 'Very simply put, if the GLCs belong to the government, then there is clearly a conflict of interest going on. 'The conflict is that I will support the ones that I own. I will give the ones that I own more of a leg up than it should, and therefore making it unfair for the private sector. That's how it distorts the market,' said Roger. 'It is bad because policies will be tailored to favour the GLCs rather than the whole private industry. That's how it distorts the market and the private sector suffers because of that,' Chin explained. He called for a Procurement Act that will be a game changer to equalise the playing field distorted by government's preference or overzealous enforcement of Bumiputra policies. 'Of course, all GLCs can be turned around! Nothing is impossible. All that is needed is political will and political courage. Hajiji (Chief Minister) has started the ball rolling. There are capable Sabahan officers and professionals who can turn around the GLCs!' 'For the first time in Sabah with Hajiji as CM and Masidi as Finance Minister, we have the political courage. The abuses, losses and misgovernance of GLCs have been swept under the carpet for too long. Hajiji has appointed Masidi to be in charge of all GLCs.' 'Sabah Voices to Action - Shaping Sabah's Future Together' is a citizen-driven, non-partisan initiative running from March to June 2025, dedicated to amplifying Sabahans' voices, fostering meaningful discussions, and shaping policies on education, healthcare, public infrastructure, and good governance. * 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
