Latest news with #Warisan
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Warisan's track record doesn't reflect good governance, says GRS leader
Restructuring efforts are being carried out for Sabah International Petroleum and Sabah Development Bank, says GRS's Penampang Youth chief Ceasar Mandela Malakun. PETALING JAYA : Warisan's track record with state-linked companies does not reflect good governance, says a divisional youth chief of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. Ceasar Mandela Malakun, head of GRS Penampang Youth, dismissed recent claims on good governance raised by Warisan vice-president Junz Wong. Malakun said Warisan's portrayal of itself as a reform-oriented government did not reflect the realities of its time in power from 2018 to 2020. Malakun highlighted the serious concerns that were raised over Sabah International Petroleum (SIP) and Sabah Development Bank (SDBank) at the time. The concerns were about the concentration of power and oversight when the chief minister, who was also state finance minister, added on the role of SIP chairman. 'From May 2018 to September 2020, SIP's debts to SDBank increased from RM1.05 billion to RM1.24 billion, while its total group liabilities – combining those with commercial banks – rose to RM1.75 billion,' he said in a statement today. Malakun also pointed to SDBank's external bond obligations which reportedly jumped from RM3.66 billion to RM4.57 billion by the time Warisan left office. 'Despite clear signs of financial distress, the bank continued to declare annual profits,' he said. 'Industry observers at the time said this raised concerns of governance weaknesses, including the possible use of creative accounting practices that may have masked the bank's underlying financial risks,' he said. Malakun said the GRS-led government is currently undertaking restructuring efforts to restore proper financial discipline, improve risk management, and ensure that SIP and SDBank serve their developmental mandates effectively. 'Sabahans deserve the truth, not Junz's selective memory. Governance isn't about rhetorics, it's about taking responsibility,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Be realistic, Sabah Umno not the force it once was, Bung told
Lee Kuok Tiung of U niversiti Malaysia Sabah said Warisan poses a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Bung Moktar Radin needs to accept the reality that Sabah Umno is no longer the force it used to be in the East Malaysian state, says a political analyst. Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Lee Kuok Tiung said while Umno used to dominate Sabah, the state's political landscape was vastly different then, with fewer local parties in contention. He pointed out that several parties have emerged in Sabah after multiple leaders broke away from Umno, namely Shafie Apdal's Warisan, Hajiji Noor's Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and even Bersatu's Sabah chapter, led by former Umno man Ronald Kiandee. 'There was no Warisan, GRS or even Sabah Bersatu in the past, and some of Sabah Umno's other past leaders are with different parties today. 'The political landscape and political set-up at that time was very different from the current scenario. So, wouldn't it be fair to say that Sabah Umno is not as it was before?' he told FMT. Lee also said Warisan, which intends to go solo in the upcoming state election, posed a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur. 'Warisan still carries a strong local branding compared with Umno, which carries 'federal baggage'. Warisan also appeals across the races more effectively than Umno. 'Although GRS currently holds the administrative power, any erosion of support (by way of multi-cornered contests), especially in mixed or urban seats, could benefit Warisan,' he said. While Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan have agreed to an alliance for the state election, talks are ongoing to rope GRS into the pact. Nonetheless, Sabah BN and GRS leaders have continued to trade barbs. On Wednesday, Bung said leaders of Sabah-based parties have failed to unite Sabahans despite constantly pushing sentiments that they were local parties. The Sabah Umno chief said he appreciated the 'local struggle' spirit, but the narrative that only local parties could defend Sabah was a broken record, specifically training his guns on GRS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan. Bung said only national coalitions like BN could bring major change, ensure long-term stability and defending Sabah's right through federal channels. Lee warned Bung that undermining local party sentiments risked alienating voters, especially with more and more of them seeing local representation in the state assembly as crucial. 'Maybe he should slow down or lie low a little because what goes around comes around. Wouldn't it be a laughing stock if, in the 17th state election, Sabah Umno suddenly has to work with a local party? 'Some leaders need to move beyond the belief that they alone hold all the answers, and refrain from launching personal attacks against those with differing views. It's time they set aside their arrogance.' Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara agreed that it would be unwise to play down local party sentiments, which he noted was 'very, very high', though he believed Umno was still a force to be reckoned with in Sabah. Azmi said Umno's awareness of local party sentiments was evidenced by its federal leadership pushing the narrative that Sabah Umno had autonomy to make decisions, even on electoral pacts. However, he said, the federal BN leadership was making the final calls to unite the warring factions within Sabah Umno aligned with Bung, Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Salleh Said Keruak. Azmi also argued that BN and PH had the upper hand over local parties at the polls because of their access to federal power and resources.
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Warisan's GLC talk an insult to Sabahans' intelligence - Mandela
Mandela KOTA KINABALU (May 30): Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Penampang Youth chief Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun has dismissed recent claims by Warisan vice president Datuk Junz Wong on good governance, saying Warisan's track record with state-linked companies tells a very different story. Mandela said Warisan's portrayal of itself as a reform-oriented administration does not reflect the realities of its time in government from 2018 to 2020, particularly in the management of Sabah International Petroleum (SIP) and Sabah Development Bank (SDBank). 'When the then Chief Minister and Finance Minister also took on the role of SIP chairman, it raised serious concerns about the concentration of power and oversight,' he said in a statement on Friday. 'From May 2018 to September 2020, SIP's debts to SDBank increased from RM1.05 billion to RM1.24 billion, while its total group liabilities — combining those with commercial banks — rose to RM1.75 billion.' Mandela also pointed to SDBank's deteriorating fiscal position during the same period. The bank's external bond obligations reportedly jumped from RM3.66 billion to RM4.57 billion by the time Warisan left office. 'Despite clear signs of financial distress, the bank continued to declare annual profits — a situation which, according to industry observers at the time, raised concerns of pervasive and systemic governance weaknesses, including the possible use of creative accounting practices that may have masked the bank's underlying financial risks,' he added. He said the GRS-led government is currently undertaking restructuring efforts to address the issues left behind. 'Today, SIP and SDBank are undergoing necessary reforms to restore proper financial discipline, improve risk management, and ensure that these institutions serve their developmental mandate effectively.' While Mandela welcomed public discussion on GLC reform, he stressed that such conversations must be rooted in truth, not politically motivated historical distortion. 'Sabahans deserve the truth, not Junz's selective memory. Governance isn't about rhetorics — it's about taking responsibility,' he said. Mandela added that the GRS administration remains focused on restoring public trust in state institutions through long-term, structural improvements.
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Former Warisan star Rampas says not contesting Sabah polls on Upko ticket
KOTA KINABALU: Former beauty queen Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas denied claims circulating on social media that she will be contesting in the upcoming state election (PRN17) on a Upko-Pakatan Harapan ticket for the Kiulu (N15) seat. Responding to a viral Facebook post suggesting she had secured support from Upko members to run in Kiulu, Rampas dismissed the claim as completely untrue. 'This is not true. I still remain party-less to this day,' she told The Star. The 36-year-old, once regarded as Warisan's 'poster girl,' also confirmed that no political party has approached her regarding candidacy. "Nobody from Upko has contacted me, prior or even after this viral post … so I don't know where this is stemming from,' she said. Rampas, who was crowned Unduk Ngadau in 2007 and previously contested the seat under Warisan, said her current focus is on academic and media pursuits. 'Right now, I am focusing on my podcast project Smart Talks Sabah and academic research with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas),' she said. She dismissed the viral post as 'baseless and false,' speculating it could be the work of political cyber-troopers. 'Election fever is definitely kicking in... but I am happier interviewing politicians these days than being one,' she quipped. The post, shared by Facebook user Bunga Togingo, quoted a so-called 'reliable source' claiming Rampas was being backed as the Upko-Pakatan candidate in Kiulu for PRN17. It suggested she had a strong chance of winning, citing both the party's large membership in the constituency and her own loyal following. 'If this development materialises, incumbent YB Datuk Joniston Bangkuai could face a tough challenge in retaining his seat,' the post read, referring to the current Kiulu assemblyman from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). Rampas, currently on sabbatical from politics while pursuing her doctorate at Unimas, has also been seen attending PBS events, fuelling speculation she might be aligning with the party. However, she clarified that her attendance was strictly professional, as she had been invited to speak based on her academic research, particularly on youth empowerment and political participation under the Undi18 initiative.
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
‘My duty as rep to defend Sabahans'
'My duty as rep to defend Sabahans' Kota Kinabalu: Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong said his recent remarks on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) regulation were grounded in Sabahan grassroots' concerns and not driven by political motives. He said it is his responsibility as an assemblyman to speak up for his constituents, particularly when they face difficulties arising from policies implemented by the relevant ministry. Advertisement 'My questions were directed to you because you are the relevant Minister, a Sabahan, and also a GRS leader. Naturally, I expect you to understand the high cost of living that Sabahans face,' said Wong, in response to criticism from Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. Wong said his mention of the GRS government was directly linked to Armizan's role within it. SPONSORED CONTENT 'In this case, it's about the 'removal' of subsidised LPG for small businesses. If even raising Sabahans' concerns is labelled as politically motivated, are we saying elected reps should stay silent? he said. On Armizan's statement that the regulation was based on a 2021 amendment under the previous administration, Wong questioned the timing of its enforcement. Advertisement 'If this law has existed since 2021, why enforce it only now? And why wasn't there a public explanation before enforcement began?' Wong said the central concern was about small food vendors now being required to apply for permits if they store more than 42kg of LPG at any given time. Advertisement Let's apply simple logic. Are you saying small vendors only use three 14kg cylinders per month? 'That's hardly enough for any business. This isn't about big players, it's about our hawkers, kopitiams and local food stalls,' he said. He questioned whether the policy applied only to storage above 42kg at one time, or total usage over a month, and asked what would happen to vendors who exceed that limit, whether they would be forced to switch to unsubsidised cylinders priced at RM76. Wong warned that such enforcement could compel vendors to increase their prices, further burdening consumers. 'Sabahans can't afford another round of price hikes. If the cost of LPG rises from RM26.60 to RM76 per cylinder for vendors, how can they maintain current food prices? In the end, it's the people who suffer,' he cautioned. He urged the Ministry to engage constructively and find a fair solution.
