Daniel John Jambun, President Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) has taken note of the remarks by Sabah State Secretary, Datuk Zainudin Aman, that the success of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 Roadmap will depend on teamwork, effective implementation and, ultimately, whether government policies improve the lives of the people.
BoPiMaFo fully agrees with Datuk Zainudin’s observation.
Indeed, the true measure of any government is not the number of policies it announces, the number of forums it organises or the number of slogans it promotes. The true measure is whether the people enjoy a better quality of life.
It is on this very standard articulated by the State Secretary that the people of Sabah will judge the success of SMJ 2.0.
The people will inevitably compare Sabah’s performance with that of neighbouring Sarawak.
Both Sabah and Sarawak entered the Federation together with comparable constitutional status, rich natural resources and immense economic potential. Yet today, the public naturally asks why the development trajectories of the two Borneo States appear increasingly different.
The people will ask whether Sabah has secured a fair return from its natural resources; whether quality employment opportunities have expanded; whether poverty has been significantly reduced; whether public infrastructure and essential services have improved; whether investor confidence has strengthened; and whether constitutional assurances made to Sabah have been faithfully honoured.
These are not partisan questions. They are questions of public accountability.
BoPiMaFo believes that sustainable prosperity requires more than development plans. It requires constitutional fidelity, transparent and accountable governance, uncompromising action against corruption, strong public institutions, and the restoration of public confidence in democratic governance.
We therefore welcome every sincere effort by the Government to advance Sabah’s development. However, the ultimate verdict will not be written in official reports or political speeches.
It will be delivered by the people of Sabah themselves.
And when that verdict is made, the people will compare promises with outcomes, aspirations with achievements, and Sabah’s progress with what has been accomplished elsewhere in Borneo.
That is the true test of leadership.
