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‘IF you do not take an interest in the affairs of your government, then you are doomed to live under the rule of fools” so said Plato, the Greek philosopher who was born around 428 BC. One of the wisest Greek philosophers in government and politics ever lived. So, my fellow Sabahans, may I invite you to take an interest and examine Sabah’s political realisms and options in the present context of Sabah’s economy and the Federal unity government. Bear in mind that this unity government has been formed at the behest of our Agong. His Majesty’s decree is astute and is hugely conducive for Malaysia’s future.Some political leaders have made comments on the present political situation with little or insufficient considerations on Sabah’s political realisms. Talking is always easy, if done even without thinking. This is not being responsible.

Solving Sabah’s entrenched economic problems is a different kettle of fish all together. It needs responsible leadership [especially economic leadership], moral fibre, dedication and above all, love for Sabah.

Meaning of “political realism”.

[2a] “Political” can be defined as “relating to the government or public affairs of a country” In the conduct of government or public affairs, there shouldn’t be consideration of [i] personal benefits. [ii] personal ambitions. It should include [iii] pertinent knowledge. [iv] wisdom. [v] honesty and integrity. [vi] free of corruption.

[2b] Realism can be defined as “the attitude or practice of accepting a situation as it is and being prepared to deal with it accordingly” The appropriate word is pragmaticism for the 2nd half of the sentence.

Attributes required to resolve Sabah’s political realisms are [i] Ability and/or experience to recognise what is realistic in the present context of Sabah. Failure to do so can be very costly or disastrously as has been proven many times in the last 30 years. [ii] Ability to find solutions for them. [iii] Ability to effectively implement the solutions. The solutions can only be as good as their implementations.

Hereunder are some important political realisms that Sabahans, the Sabah government and political leaders must recognise and resolve. Sabah’s political realism No.1. Sabah’s very weak bargaining position.

Sabah has a very much weakened bargaining position with the Federal Government, insufficient political strength competing against other states at the national level due to years of selfishness and mismanagement by our political leaders. Sabah has regressed from No. 2 to the bottom of the heap in the last 30 years. So easy to destroy. Extreme hard struggling to regain lost ground.

Being the weakest economically is Sabah’s most serious fundamental problem. Though Sabah has made progress to regain some concessions especially in the oil and gas in 2022, the road ahead to achieve the true meaning of full partnership in MA63 has hardly started. Expect hard bargaining on [3a] 40% share of revenue collected from Sabah is still a distant dream. [3b] Equitable allocations from annual budget and 5-year plan. [3c] No Sabah representatives in all federal GLCs/GLICs, federal financial institutions [whose budgets can equate to billions and billions].

The realism in this matter is that there is no place for the weak. Don’t expect charity. Don’t expect the well to do states like Selangor or Penang to “kasian” Sabah just cos we have become an economic weakling. Being weak will exacerbate Sabah’s wealth leakages. Repeat---there is no place for the weak. Sabah must unite, rise up to fight for what is equitably ours. Sabahans must regain control of our economic ownership, especially the critical sector like palm oil, oil and gas, tourism. Or be destroyed.

Sabah’s political realism No.2. Be Sabahan, go national.

In the first place, do we have a unity government in Sabah? If not why not? It is comforting to see that there is an emerging trend among Sabah political leaders to speak out on Sabah’s major economic issues in Parliament and in public. The latest political moves to align with the national unity government and at the same time, maintain being distinctively Sabahan is sensible. Such a move is right for Sabah. Sufficiently significant for a Sarawak leader, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) President Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum to comment that ‘GRS now very much like GPS’. This transformation of BE SABAHAN, GO NATIONAL will mean a better chance for the formation of a truly effective “Borneo Block” in Parliament. Combining forces from Sarawak will give us a stronger voice.

The present Sabah government has regained/reclaimed a number of state rights i.e., petroleum sales tax, Collaborative Commercial Agreement, Sabah Gas Masterplan and others. A solid unity government can expedite the on-going effort to even keel the federal/state relationship in the present political context and enhance economic development.

https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/204214/grs-now-very-much-like-gps-/

Sabah’s political realism No.3. Facts and figures don’t lie. Sabah is the worst-off state in Malaysia.

Very true. Look at these facts and figures.

[5a] In the current Parliament, 166 [or 75%] of the 222 seats are in Peninsular Malaysia while the remaining 25%, or 56 seats, are in Sarawak 31 [14%] and Sabah 25 [11%]. [5b] When Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia, West Malaysia has selfishly grabbed all the parliamentary seats vacated by Singapore, giving none to Sarawak and Sabah. No Sabah leader had spoken out against this. West Malaysia has an overwhelming majority against Sabah and Sarawak. The Borneo Block must have a genuinely strong cohesion or else we get wiped out. Sarawak has played a brilliant game thus far. Sabah has foolishly divided ourselves. The result? Let’s look at the cabinet allocation of the Anwar’s unity government next. [5c] The cabinet appointment by Anwar is reflective of Sabah’s weak political position at the national level. Total number of cabinet ministers is 28, PH15 [PKR 8, DAP4, Amanah 2, UPKO 1], BN 6, GPS 5, GRS 1, no party 1. Being solidly and consistently united, Sarawak has gained distinctive advantages over Sabah in Anwar’s cabinet. Sarawak has 1 of the 2 DPMs and 4 cabinet ministers. Sabah has only 2 [GRS and UPKO] who are not even on the same side! The Sarawakians have much more in the number of cabinet ministers and more powerful ministries than Sabah’s. Obviously, Sarawak will have Anwar’s ear much more than Sabah. Nobody to blame except ourselves. Some Sabah leaders cannot stop fighting to become Chief Minister irrespective of the consequences of disunity in Sabah.

[5d] Sabah continues to have little representation in all the important federal policy decision making institutions and agencies. No say at all in fiscal and monetary policy, no say in the national budget, no say in all major GLCs and GLICs. Only recently Sabah has succeeded to gain a place at the Petronas and Income Tax Boards in 2022!

[5e] Sabah has contributed a huge chunk of the national GDP [6th place] but we have become the worst off than Kelantan and have stayed at the bottom. Hardly any of the GDP produced by Sabah stay in Sabah to benefit Sabahans. All economic indicators like household income, unemployment, are telling us that we have been performing very badly. Our wealth is leaking away like a giant sieve. Yet Sabah political leaders have failed to unite. Sabah must have a unity government to redress all these.

Why has Sabah got the worst deal? Our political leaders are bend on fighting for themselves rather than unite for the sake of Sabah. Sabah leaders must stop agreeing to disagree, begin agreeing to agree. In short, get their act together in the interest of Sabah.

Sabah’s political realism No.4. Systemic weak economic institutions, Transformation.

Weak economic institutions are a very serious political realism that needs rectification urgently. Things move at snail pace. Too many “Little Napoleons”. Bureaucracy is burdening down the whole system. The Sabah’s economy has been stagnant for years, structurally fossilized. There is hope of light in the tunnel lately with better co-ordination. Silos are beginning to break down. Sabah must tear all these down. There are many good officers who must be identified and allowed to do the work. 

Recent policy transformation has attracted record investments. The ongoing economic restructuring must continue. The present effort to sort out and re-organise Sabah’s economic development institutions must continue. A unity Sabah government can expedite this transformation.

Sabah’s Hobson Choice.

Hobson Choice – a situation in which it seems that you can choose between different things or actions, but there is really only one thing that you can take or do:

Sabah’s Hobson Choice. Don’t unite, don’t have a unity government means political fights for selfish reasons will destroy Sabah. The victims are Sabahans, especially the most vulnerable ones. The B40. I will expand it to B60 as most Sabahans are economically defenceless. Disunity and more political fights mean destruction of Sabah.

Unity and a genuine unity government in the present political context will strengthen Sabah’s position in economic development and Federal/State relationship, in fighting for equitable development funds and Sabah’s rights under MA63.

- The views expressed here are the views of the writer Datuk John Lo and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.

- If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my