By Social Activist Gundohing Salman Nurillah
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has enjoyed independence for over six decades, having become a part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.
Given its long history, Sabah should not find itself among the poorest states in Malaysia.
With an abundance of natural resources such as oil, gas, timber, palm oil, cocoa, rubber, seafood, gold, copper, and more, Sabah should not still be grappling with issues like electricity and water supply, as well as other basic infrastructure like roads.
Yet, this reality continues to plague the majority of Sabah’s citizens, despite the state being governed by ten different Prime Ministers of Malaysia over the years.
After three local parties—Usno, BERJAYA, and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS)—have ruled Sabah, it seems that Malaya has consistently employed a Divide and Rule strategy to maintain control over Sabah, extracting its resources while neglecting the development of the state to ensure it matches the progress of states in Peninsular Malaysia.
Leaders from Malaya frequently visit Sabah, not to assess what needs improvement, but rather to make promises that allow them to continue leading Sabah according to their own agenda.
The attitude of Malayan leaders attempting to subordinate Sabah leaders and jeopardize their political future if they do not comply with their directives is concerning.
There is a growing sentiment among the people, fueled by a desire for change and frustration with the political theatrics from Malaya, that only local Sabah parties, free from ties to Malayan parties, can effectively govern the state.
Several political leaders believe it is time for the people of Sabah to awaken from their prolonged slumber and refrain from supporting either Malayan parties or local parties that still align themselves with Malayan interests.
For instance, Sim Fui, the Chief of the Youth Movement of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has criticized both Malayan parties and local parties that continue to collaborate with them in governing Sabah, neglecting their responsibility to advance the state and lift it from its status as the poorest region.
With a firm statement from the President of Parti Warisan Sabah, Datuk Seri Hj Mohd Shafie Hj Apdal, declaring that the party will operate independently in the upcoming 17th state election, this should serve as a pivotal moment or a “wake-up call” for the people and all leaders in Sabah to rally behind local parties.
This will ensure that only those parties, unaligned with Malayan interests, can govern Sabah without interference from Malaya.
This situation has been demonstrated by Sarawak, showing that only by supporting local parties can the state administration be carried out according to its own framework.
This development should serve as a catalyst for the people of Sabah to change their fate, ensuring that they are no longer neglected after more than 60 years and still regarded as a backward state, which has forced the youth to migrate to the Peninsula in search of employment that matches their qualifications and skills.
The people of Sabah have experienced decades of supporting national parties, yet what they hoped to achieve has turned into a nightmare, as even basic infrastructure has not been adequately provided.
The prevailing mentality seems to lack the desire for the citizens of the state to enjoy the essential services they deserve as free individuals.
Consequently, state leaders entrusted with resolving infrastructure issues, despite receiving billions in allocations in the past, have failed to bring about any tangible changes on the ground, a reality that is still felt today.
The reason for this situation is to keep the people in a state of perpetual hope, yearning for dreams to materialize, while in reality, these aspirations remain unfulfilled.
The people of Sabah continue to be promised sweet assurances that, if given the opportunity, they will eradicate poverty, underdevelopment, and the fundamental issues that have long plagued the region.
For the past 30 years, since the direct governance of Sabah by Malaya through BN (Umno and its allies), there have been seven Chief Ministers endorsed by Malayan leaders.
Therefore, I believe it is crucial for the people of Sabah to awaken to this reality and unite in the fight for our future. We cannot indefinitely rely on a Malayan party that shows little commitment to advocating for Sabah’s rights.
This aligns with my strong support for the decision made by the President of the Warisan Party to contest independently in the upcoming 17th state election.
The people of Sabah should also reflect on history, recognizing that Sabah was once governed by local parties such as Usno, BERJAYA, and PBS. Sabah’s leaders must unite to prevent Malaya from continuing its divide-and-rule strategy, which benefits only Malaya and a select few Sabah leaders.
To achieve this goal, all parties must take responsibility; it is not solely the leaders but the entire populace that should view Warisan’s actions as timely if we genuinely desire meaningful change and true autonomy, rather than mere rhetoric.
However, as we know, politics is dynamic, and anything is possible, as evidenced by the developments between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional following the last general election.
As long as leaders prioritize the interests of Sabah and its people above all else, I am confident that any decisions made after the 17th state election will reflect that commitment.
— The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Jesselton Times.
