By Daniel John Jambun
President
Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS)
KOTA KINABALU: The Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) today dismissed attempts by Hajiji Noor’s government and his allies to portray Sabah as experiencing an “economic revival,” calling it a dangerous mix of propaganda, inflated statistics, and selective narratives.
Former State Assemblyman J. Ligunjang JP recently claimed that state revenue had surged from RM4 billion in 2020 to RM9 billion in 2025 under Hajiji’s leadership. But official data from the Sabah State Finance Ministry tells a very different story.
Sabah’s projected revenue for 2025 is only RM6.44 billion, not RM9 billion.
Between 2020 and 2024, annual revenue fluctuated between RM5.5 billion and RM7 billion.
In 2023, total revenue stood at RM7 billion, contributing just 5.5% to Malaysia’s GDP.
“Where is this supposed RM9 billion? These figures are exaggerated and misleading. Sabahans deserve honesty, not fairy tales,” CAMOS said.
While petroleum taxes have brought in RM7.36 billion since 2020 (with RM1.9 billion collected in 2022 alone), such reliance on volatile oil prices is unsustainable. Meanwhile, Sabah’s GDP in 2024 was RM84.3 billion — still below the RM85.6 billion peak under Shafie Apdal’s Warisan government in 2019. Far from revival, this reflects stagnation.
Despite federal allocations exceeding RM2.6 billion for infrastructure, rural Sabah remains trapped in poverty: broken roads, unreliable water supply, constant blackouts, and limited access to healthcare and education. “Sabah has the highest poverty rate in Malaysia. Yet this government boasts of achievements that ordinary villagers in Pitas, Nabawan, or Tongod cannot see or feel,” CAMOS stressed.
CAMOS also criticised Hajiji’s performance in the Sabah State Assembly, where he has often given vague, evasive, and incomplete answers, at times appearing emotional, defensive, and forgetful. “This shows a lack of command over state affairs. A true leader provides clarity and accountability. Hajiji provides excuses.”
In sharp contrast, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, an economics graduate from a British university, has the training, experience, and proven record of delivery. Under Warisan, Sabah:
Achieved record revenue of RM5.3 billion in 2018 — then the highest ever.
Cleared hidden debts and reformed inefficient GLCs.
Delivered real infrastructure projects, expanded rural electrification, empowered youth through scholarships and entrepreneurship, and boosted food security.
Recorded tourism peaks prior to COVID-19, generating jobs and inclusive growth.
The difference is clear:
Shafie delivers real development. Hajiji delivers slogans.
Shafie answers with facts. Hajiji avoids with excuses.
Shafie has vision, training, and courage. Hajiji clings to propaganda.
From CAMOS’ perspective, true revival requires:
Transparent financial reporting.
Inclusive growth policies, not urban-centric elitism.
Serious poverty eradication programmes.
Sustainable industry development beyond oil dependency.
Genuine rural investment that touches ordinary lives.
“Sabahans do not need more political spin. Enough of inflated figures and empty promises. What Sabah needs is competent, honest leadership that acknowledges hardship, tells the truth, and delivers solutions. Anything less is an insult to the people’s intelligence,” CAMOS declared.
