Commentary by Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok
KOTA KINABALU: As the Sabah election approaches, it seems many Sabahans have already formed opinion about who should lead the state for the next five years.
While political analysts may continue to speculate, what matters most is the present and future of Sabah and the well-being of its people.
Many voters I have spoken to are deeply concerned about political stability. Instability could hinder economic growth and derail progress.
The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-PH Plus government is far from perfect – but then again which government is?
What matters is that the people evaluate the coalition based on its performance since 2020.
Sabah’s economic achievements have drawn attention and numerous programmes and initiatives had been launched to tackle pressing issues, particularly in water and electricity.
The multi-billion ringgit Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project (UPHEP) stands out as a major initiative aimed at providing a long-term solution to these long-standing problems.
The UPHEP is capable of generating an average of 1,052 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean energy annually – hence increasing Sabah’s current dependable capacity by some 15 per cent.
And, it will also double the renewable energy (RE) mix, supporting Sabah’s goal of achieving approximately 35% RE share in its generation mix by 2035.
The project was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim two years ago.
At the launch, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor had expressed confidence that the UPHEP would also resolve Sabah’s water supply problem in the longer term.
Gamuda Berhad is the total development contractor (TDC) for this power project in partnership with Conlay Construction Sdn Bhd (Conlay).
And, when the UPHEP commences commercial operation, water scarcity and power shortages will be a thing of the past.
As expected, the opposition will continue to criticise the government, especially over these legacy issues.
But let’s not forget – they were in power once and did little to resolve the very same problems.
It’s time they stop living in fantasy. They had their chanced and failed to live up to the expectations of those who once trusted them.
What the people want now is a government that works in the best interest of everyone.
Recognising that the current coalition government has performed well and enjoys broad support, the opposition appears to have resorted to smear tactics to try and turn the tide in the upcoming election.
Such tactics will only backfire, exposing their desperation and eroding their credibility.
I also urge rural voters not to be swayed by the “kind faces” of opposition figures when they visit villages to hold ceramahs (political talks).
As a voter myself, I believe the Chief Minister’s leadership has been nothing short of commendable.
To those who think they can replace him – stop dreaming. “You can’t hold a candle to him”
The Sabah state election must be held at the latest by early December this year.
