KOTA KINABALU: Warisan has expressed confidence that it will return to power after the upcoming state election.
The party recently stated that it expects to be back at the helm despite going solo in the election.
Utusan Malaysia reported remarks calling for Sabahans to unite behind a party not beholden to any federal power
With respect, public record points to a different trajectory. After the 2018 state election, a government was formed through post-election realignments, including UPKO Assemblymen who had won on a Barisan Nasional ticket moving to support Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Two years later, Sabahans chose change at the ballot box and returned a working mandate to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah GRS).
Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor was sworn in as Chief Minister, and a stable coalition took office focused on certainty, implementation and delivery.
Warisan set ambitious objectives when in office. However, official statistics for that two-year period show Sabah’s growth slowed markedly after 2017.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia data, Sabah’s growth was strong in 2017 and then moderated in 2018 and 2019.
The reasons can be debated; the figures are public.
On legacy liabilities, the current administration has publicly stated that lawsuits by nine companies, following contract terminations made in 2018, resulted in compensation payments in the region of RM300 million.
These statements are on record and open to scrutiny.
Since taking office, GRS has focused on delivery. The Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap continues to guide reforms and investment.
The Sabah Energy Roadmap and Masterplan 2040 has been launched to improve reliability in the near term while building long-term resilience.
And, a key pillar is the 187.5MW Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project in Tenom, targeted for completion by 2030, to help address long-standing water and power constraints.
On the fiscal front, official statements report that state revenue has strengthened in recent years, around the RM7 billion mark annually after 2021, compared with 2020 levels.
Nominal GDP has also edged up from 2023 to 2024, as reported by the Chief Minister with reference to Department of Statistics Malaysia figures.
The opposition will test every claim. That is healthy in a democracy. What matters to Sabahans is steady management and credible plans that translate into tangible improvements.
Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji is a leader who prioritises work over headlines.
The record shows consistent efforts to develop the state, reduce poverty and resolve inherited water and electricity issues under the GRS-led government.
These are the qualities Sabah needs.
In closing, confidence should be matched by a credible roadmap and deliverables. The record, not rhetoric, should decide.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah is, increasingly, a byword for progress and unity.
(Commentary by Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence Bongkos Malakun, member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council)
