By Remy Majangkim, MA63 Activist, Researcher and Tutor
KOTA KINABALU: Quite recently we are reprimanded by the Chief Minister of Sabah from mocking the state of Sabah Slogan “Sabah Maju Jaya”. In recent months, the State Speaker has warned members of the State Assembly not to mock and ridicule each other with the slogan. So in order to understand it further, one needs to understand the context behind its infamous beginning, let us walk through its short historical journey.
So it derives from a political stems. The last state government was fond of their slogan “In God we trust, unite we must”. After the Sheraton move in February 2020, that sees the collapse of Pakatan Harapan 1.0. The Sabah State Government sees their representatives jumping their alliances, the sitting Chief Minister has no recourse but to announce the dissolution of the State Assembly on 30 July 2020. Note the important dates and the chain of events that happen within a five-month period.
In the 2020 state election, 73 state seats are up for grabs. Warisan won 23 state seats at 31.5% in total. Warisan is the clear winner as it fulfills all the criterion of a member of the state assembly and a leader of a political party in accordance with the State Constitution. It is up to the state Yang di Pertua Negeri, privilege in choosing the next Chief Minister to lead the state. He annouce that Datuk Hajiji Noor from ADUN Sulaman would be the next 16th Chief Minister of Sabah. The inception of Datuk Hajiji Noor based on the new coalition with other remnants of small political party that make up a new collision called “Gabungan Rakyat Sabah” GRS and adopted the slogan “Sabah Maju Jaya”.
Now let’s see a big overview of what’s going on in the country. There is no doubt Malaysia democracy was hijacked at the federal level after the “Sheraton move”. Democracy chewed and spit over by these immoral politicians. That’s what’s going on; it’s like a wild fire that’s spreading between states engulfing their path. It was a perfect storm. We are all locked into our homes during the global pandemic and have endured four phases of the Movement Control Order (MCO). As we remember the hardship and sadness we have experienced in these two years plus (2020-2023).
Sabah Maju Jaya denotes the achievement of the State and moving forward in prosperity. After we have been coop up in our house, farm, local business seeing the red and Parliament was shut down. Question arises among the people of Sabah: Did we actually achieve what was said in the slogan? Or half a truth, or none at all. The State assembly’s members have decided to raise the salary on 19 July 2022 during the pandemic. As an example, the old salary for the Chief Minister of Sabah was RM23,595.00 and was raised to RM33,033.00. So is it wise and prudent to go for such a hike during this trying period? Another example is the agreement that the state government agrees the 40% revenue entitlement with the federal government is put on hold until 2026. Are these the targets of the slogan?
Amongst other barrages of disparity and inconsistency, did the current sitting state government do an excellent work in managing the state and providing our basic needs? As this opinion piece penned out, we are experiencing water cuts that effect the whole of Sandakan. As I swung my head to my wife, unbatedly she said “Sabah Maju Jaya”, we have no water in the house.
