By Daniel John Jambun, President Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) takes note of the statement by YB Datuk Mustapha Sakmud that lower diesel prices demonstrate that the Madani Government’s initiatives are beginning to deliver tangible benefits to the people.
BoPiMaFo welcomes any policy initiative that genuinely reduces the cost of living for ordinary Malaysians. If lower diesel prices translate into reduced transportation costs, lower food prices and relief for farmers, fishermen, small businesses and consumers, such measures should be commended.
However, BoPiMaFo respectfully submits that temporary price reductions should not be mistaken for a complete solution to Sabah’s longstanding structural challenges.
For many Sabahans, the central issues remain security, equitable economic development and the faithful implementation of the constitutional arrangements that accompanied the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
SABAH’S NATURAL WEALTH SHOULD BENEFIT SABAHANS
Sabah is richly endowed with oil and gas resources that have contributed significantly to the national economy for decades. BoPiMaFo maintains that the people of Sabah should enjoy a fair and meaningful share of the benefits arising from those resources and that their management should promote sustainable development and long-term prosperity within the State.
In that context, while lower diesel prices are appreciated, Sabahans should not lose sight of the broader question of ensuring that wealth generated from Sabah’s own natural resources contributes to better infrastructure, healthcare, education, employment opportunities and economic growth for the people of Sabah.
SHORT-TERM RELIEF MUST BE MATCHED BY LONG-TERM REFORM
Lower fuel prices may provide immediate assistance to households and businesses, but sustainable prosperity depends on broader reforms that improve productivity, infrastructure, governance, education and investment.
Sabah continues to face significant development challenges despite its abundant natural resources. Addressing these issues requires long-term planning and adherence to constitutional principles rather than reliance on periodic subsidies alone.
THE COST OF LIVING IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE EQUATION
Policies that ease daily expenses are welcome, but they should complement—not replace—serious efforts to address Sabah’s constitutional rights, fiscal arrangements and development priorities.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH IS NEEDED
BoPiMaFo believes that Sabah’s future cannot be secured through isolated economic measures alone. Meaningful progress requires a holistic approach that combines:
– Protection of constitutional rights and federal commitments;
– Strong border and immigration management;
– Fair and transparent management of Sabah’s natural resources;
– Sustainable and inclusive economic development;
– Good governance, accountability and transparency; and
– Policies that genuinely improve the quality of life of all Sabahans.
BoPiMaFo therefore welcomes lower diesel prices as temporary relief but respectfully reminds policymakers that Sabahans aspire to something greater: a future in which the State’s abundant natural wealth—including its oil and gas resources—helps deliver lasting prosperity, constitutional justice, economic security and opportunities for present and future generations.
