By Daniel John Jambun President
Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS)
GRS boasts of “record revenue” but fails to deliver real development for Sabahans.
KOTA KINABALU: The statement by Datuk Dr Roland Chia claiming that Sabah is on a strong economic footing is nothing more than an attempt to deceive the public. The reality is this: despite GRS boasting of “record revenues” and “historic reserves,” Sabah has fallen far behind Sarawak.
In 2025, Sarawak tabled a budget of RM15.8 billion, with RM10.9 billion (69%) allocated for development.
Sabah, meanwhile, tabled only RM6.7 billion, with a mere RM1.3 billion (19%) for development and a staggering 81% consumed by operating expenditure.
This is undeniable proof that GRS has failed. They are merely paying bills, not building Sabah’s future. While Sarawak advances with highways, schools, hospitals, and internet connectivity, Sabahans continue to endure water shortages, blackouts, and the highest poverty rate in Malaysia.
Selective Numbers, Distorted Story
Roland accuses Justin Wong of “selective figures,” yet he himself is guilty of the same. He conveniently ignores two facts:
The global Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 triggered the worst economic crisis in decades. Every state in Malaysia — and indeed every country in the world — experienced contraction. To blame Warisan for a -9.1% contraction in 2020 is intellectual dishonesty. Selangor, Penang, Sarawak, and Johor all recorded sharp contractions too.
Warisan’s 2019 GDP of RM85.6 billion (before the pandemic) was Sabah’s highest ever at the time. In other words, Warisan grew Sabah’s economy to record levels before Covid struck.
Fact check: DOSM data shows Malaysia’s national GDP shrank by -5.6% in 2020, the worst since the Asian Financial Crisis. Sabah’s contraction was part of that global crisis, not a Warisan-made failure.
Recovery Under GRS: Too Slow, Too Weak
Roland claims “steady recovery” under GRS. But the facts tell a different story:
2021: +1.5%
2022: +3.9%
2023: +1.3%
2024: +1.1%
This is far below the national average growth rates (e.g. Malaysia grew +8.7% in 2022, +3.7% in 2023).
While other states rebounded strongly after the pandemic, Sabah’s recovery has been anaemic, placing us last in Malaysia’s growth rankings for multiple years. That is not success — it is underperformance.
Misrepresentation on Rankings (“Top Six”)
Roland downplays Sabah dropping out of Malaysia’s top six economies as “marginal.” This is misleading:
Sabah fell behind Perak, despite having far greater natural resources (oil, gas, palm oil, tourism).
Losing rank means losing competitiveness, investor confidence, and opportunities.
Meanwhile, Sarawak surged ahead with over RM170 billion GDP in 2023, more than double Sabah’s RM84 billion.
“Structural reform” is not an excuse for stagnation while our neighbours accelerate.
Warisan’s Pre-Pandemic Performance
Roland cherry-picks growth rates to paint Warisan as “weak.” He ignores the context:
In 2017, Sabah’s 8.1% growth came from a global commodity upswing (palm oil and petroleum prices).
By 2018–2019, global commodity prices weakened, explaining slower growth. Yet Warisan still pushed GDP to its highest ever (RM85.6b in 2019) while achieving record tourism arrivals (4.2 million in 2019) and introducing new revenue streams.
Most importantly, Warisan imposed the 5% sales tax on oil and gas in 2019 — something GRS never fought for but now relies on heavily.
Revenue and Reserves: Built on Warisan’s Foundation
Roland boasts of RM7b revenue and RM8.6b reserves under GRS. The truth is:
These revenues exist largely because of the oil & gas sales tax introduced by Warisan. Without it, Sabah’s finances under Hajiji would still be stagnant.
Higher global oil and palm oil prices (2021–2022) also boosted collections — external factors, not GRS policy.
But has this money reached the people? Despite “record reserves,” Sabah remains the poorest state (19.5% poverty rate), with the highest youth unemployment (13.5%).
Warisan used revenues to channel funds into jobs, infrastructure, scholarships, and rural health. GRS, on the other hand, hoards reserves while the rakyat suffer.
The Sarawak Comparison: A Mirror of Failure
If Roland wants to boast about “record budgets,” then let us compare with Sarawak:
Sarawak 2025 Budget: RM15.8 billion (Development: RM10.9b, Operating: RM4.9b)
Sabah 2025 Budget: RM6.74 billion (Development: RM1.3b, Operating: RM5.4b)
This means:
Sarawak allocates 69% to development — building highways, bridges, schools, hospitals, and digital infrastructure.
Sabah allocates only 19% to development, with a staggering 81% eaten up by operating expenses.
The contrast is undeniable: while Sarawak invests in the future, Sabah under GRS is trapped in a survival budget — paying bills, not building progress.
Both Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaysia as equal partners under MA63. Yet Sarawak has surged ahead with real fiscal autonomy and vision, while GRS has left Sabah weak, dependent, and left behind.
Cronyism and Structural Weakness Remain
Roland praises SMJ reforms, but the people’s lived reality proves otherwise:
Energy and water crises are worse than ever, with rolling blackouts and rationing despite billions “allocated.”
Investor confidence is shaken by opaque deals in mining, timber, and carbon concessions awarded to cronies.
Rural Sabah sees little benefit, while Sarawak uses its oil revenue to build real infrastructure and uplift its people.
Conclusion: GRS’ Numbers Are Cosmetic, Warisan’s Record Speaks
Roland’s statement is pure window dressing: cherry-picking numbers, ignoring context, and hiding failures behind cosmetic “reserves.”
The truth is simple:
Warisan built new revenue streams (oil & gas tax) and delivered tangible benefits within 26 months.
GRS inherited Warisan’s foundation but failed to translate record revenues into real development for ordinary Sabahans.
Today, Sabah remains the poorest state despite “historic” revenues — while Sarawak surges ahead with double the GDP and a development budget nearly ten times larger. That is the true legacy of GRS.
