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Give Sabahans a better life!

Incredible low-quality campaigns by politicians. Stop the blame game. Emulate Harris.

Without exception, our active politicians vying to stand in the 2025 election are well educated, attended universities either in Malaysia or overseas. Probably most have degrees in economics, law or accountancy. The quality of their ideas as propounded in their speeches reflect poorly on their qualifications and personalities. Most do not have substance or make sense.

Their education does not seem to equip them to produce positive ideas that can give Sabahans a better life. 

These well-educated politicians, I very much regret to say, are no match to Harris’ progressive economic development ideas. He likes to remind me that his education was primary 6 in Malay and primary 6 in English.

From a humble civil servant, ADO in Sipitang, he was handpicked by Britain’s last Governor Sir William Goode, to become clerk to the Legislative Council. His meteoric rise to Minister of Finance in Mustapha’s Usno government and eventually to CM is legendry.

During his nine years as CM, Sabah was in the “golden era” of economic development the like of which we have not seen before or since. 

The older generations will remember with great fondness of Harris’ time as CM. Sabah’s economy was firmly under the control of Sabahans, civil service was ultra efficient. All school children throughout Sabah were given free milk daily, school uniforms, shoes, and books. Thousands were awarded scholarships. YS was able to pay dividends to all Sabahans.

Harris was constructing roads to the kampongs!

Harris also pioneered the industrial foundation for Sabah with the establishment of several industries, many of which are still doing well like Asean Supply Base, Sabah Energy, Sabah Gas [after he left office, it was sold to Petronas by PBS which is making huge profits each year,] SFI [also sold after he left office] and KPD. 

Most significantly, he talked Tengku Razaleigh [former Finance Minister] into giving Sabah approvals for 3 licences i.e. Sabah Bank, Sabah Development Bank and Sabah Finance. This has never been done before or since. Even Sarawak couldn’t own a single financial institution with its name on it. 

Harris had the vision of developing these financial institutions into a holistic financial eco-system for Sabah.

Under Harris, Sabah shot up to top No. 2 state in Malaysia, only Selangor was better.

Harris, never went to university, could transform himself into an economic visionary, an achiever and most importantly, an effective implementor and a result-orientated CM.

Harris was able to give every Sabahan a better life, things got done fast, civil service was efficient. When he left office, Sabah had RM2.5 billion in reserve [about RM10 billion in today’s value]. 

The question every Sabahan should ask: why our politicians, though much better educated, have failed to match Harris in giving Sabahans a better life? In fact, it has gone a lot down.

Hajiji initiated Sabah’s transformation–a first in Sabah since Harris.

Let us not talk politics. Look into Sabah’s needs for economic development in the context of Sabah’s stunted growth in the past 40 years and what Hajiji has now achieved since 2020.

Hajiji has started his transformation for Sabah. Hopefully, political leaders can give some deep thoughts in their campaigns on how and where they can contribute and add on to what Hajiji has achieved the last few years.

After Harris left office in 1985 there was only intermittent economic growth resulting in Sabah’s economic slide from top No. 2 to bottom No.2. During this period, Sabah  lost economic ownership to outsiders. Sabah’s private sector was weakened badly and ignored with preference given to Malayan companies. 

Updating and maintenance of infrastructure were given minimal attention and funding. Investment was poor, and job opportunities scarce, unemployment rate highest in the country.

Hajiji has taken on where Harris has left after a gap of 40 years of erratic economic growth. Hajiji is the first CM to comprehensively undertake a total review and took initiative to tackle Sabah’s 40 years of stunted economic growth – a monumental job. 

He has succeeded in:

[1] regaining rights in oil and gas under CCA [Commercial Collaboration Agreement] with Petronas, built up the foundation of an oil and gas industry with investment of more than RM30 billion, created thousands of jobs and new business opportunities for Sabahans. Hajiji has imposed 80% of jobs in oil and gas to be reserved for Sabahans. Now, jobs are chasing after suitable Sabahans to work in this industry.

The CCA has put Sabah on par with Sarawak in terms of relationship with Petronas.

Good for Sabah if politicians can produce ideas to enhance/supplement on what Hajiji has been achieved so far in the oil and gas industry.

[2] creating an industrial base for Sabah to overcome the greatest economic challenge, i.e. from producing commodities to industrialization. This is a quantum leap.

Billions of investments by Nexilus, Kibing, ESteel and many others in oil and gas. KKIP and Sogip have been fully taken up. 4 new industrial parks are being planned. POIC [FZ] Lahad Datu is at advance planning. This will be the game changer for Sabah to become a major logistic hub.

Sabah, from nowhere, has achieved the 3rd top state in investment in Malaysia.

What policy initiative political leaders can produce to assure these investors to stay and invest more in Sabah. The current political squabbling which may unsettle them and drive them away. And may also scare away potential investments. 

[3] enlarging revenue base from RM4 billion plus to RM8 billion, almost doubling in just 4 years which is an incredible achievement. Likewise, Sabah Government has a much strong reserve.

This is the clearest sign that Sabah has good governance which is critical for Sabah’s future. Masidi is doing an excellent job in managing Sabah’s finance especially in plugging numerous financial leakages.

Can politicians give suggestions to further expand the revenue base, where to look for more revenue? How to use Sabah’s ballooning reserves to benefit all Sabahans?

[4] transforming some GLCs. A few of them are already showing encouraging results. The latest to be turned around is Sedco which has been badly managed for years and lost many, many millions and valuable commercial land.

Many political leaders are on the boards of GLCs as Chairmen and Directors. Can they transform themselves and contribute towards the turnaround of their GLCs? Can they improve governance? Make the GLCs profitable?

[5] having attracted record investments of RM58 billion into Sabah. This is the largest ever investment for Sabah since MA63. These investments will form the economic foundation for Sabah’s future generations.

What can politicians do to encourage more genuine investments? Some politicians have brought in “palsu” or fake investors. This is unethical. Can politicians stop doing this? Most importantly, can politicians help to enhance investors’ confidence further? 

[6] forming SEAC, Sabah Law Reform Council, Sabah Professional Council and SYBIL to encourage the open government concept and to bring in Sabahan experts for inputs.

These organisations are non-political; members are from private sectors to provide feedbacks. The Sabah Professional Council will collaborate with the Government to promote and protect the interest of all Sabahan professionals.

Can politicians give more ideas to expand the concept of open government?

[7] Hajiji has laid the foundation to expand Sabah’s economy. With this expansion, it is hoped that Sabahans will regain control of the economy, more jobs, more business opportunities and above all a better life for all Sabahans.

Can politicians concentre on making life better for Sabahans in their campaigns?

All above items are verifiable in the social media.

Stop squabbling. Solve these economic problems to give Sabahans a better life.

It must be said that Sabah’s greatest barrier to speedier economic development is non-performing politicians of whom, I am afraid to say, are too many. 

Disunity, political quarrelling can mean one thing only, destructive at the expense of all Sabahans. 

I appeal to all politicians to focus on hereunder economic issues and produce solutions that can make life better for all Sabahans:

[1] Top of the list is Sabah/Federal relationship, especially in regards to 40%, TSA2012 and other MA63 rights. These items will make the greatest difference in the lives of all Sabahans, now and future generations. 

Very likely that 2025 election will not produce a simple majority party. To deal with the Federal Government, there must be a united, strong government. Or we continue to be the losers like before.

[2] 2nd top priority is to solve the little and big Napoleons that have infested in the whole system of government service. They are everywhere. Every matter, from simple routine stuff to big contracts, require extensive lobbying and “special arrangement”. Or else! A junior officer can stall things from 6 months to a year or more.

Or files disappear. Sabahans are forced to spend tons of efforts and money on getting approvals from government. The hidden cost, including time cost, of doing business is horrendous in Sabah. The negative economic impacts of these Napoleons are very damaging.

Can the politicians stop abusing the servants by requiring them to do things beyond their job specs?

Would the politicians agree that outstanding officers should be appointed to key positions to serve the state and to enhance efficiency in the administrative system?

[3] Sabahans, especially young families, are suffering from serious inflation in their daily lives. 

Inflation in Sabah is the highest in Malaysia. RM1 used to be something. Now even school kids will scoff at RM1 pocket money. RM10 cannot buy a decent lunch. 

A decent house or apartment is beyond the reach of many young couples. Their combined income can buy a pigeon hole of 600 sq. ft. Soon it will be 400 sq. ft. Land is so expensive. Why when Sabah has so much land?

Can politicians produce some concrete ideas to solve inflation or at least contain it? And to make housing more affordable. Can transform Sabah whereby all Sabahans can own their own homes? If not, why? 

[4] All sort of claims being made on the solutions of poor infrastructure, some are unbelievable. It is estimated informally that Sabah will need at least RM200 billion to upgrade water, power, and roads. Sewerage is another major item that needs many billions.

Can politicians give their ideas where the funds will come from and a realistic time line to complete rectifications for our infrastructures? How to fight for federal fund?

Sabah needs young progressive leaders.

Several elderly politicians are still fighting to stand for 2025 election.

Sabah cannot make much economic progress if the political old guards continue to dominate and rule. Sabah has remained largely stagnant because of too many politicians who think they are indispensable in their old age. 

Apart from being seriously out of date with their platitudes they have nothing much to offer to Sabah’s young voters. 

Given that about 60% to 70% voters in Sabah are young voters between 18 to 40, these elderly politicians better retire and become elder statesmen. Forget holding political office after 2025 election. 

Do not overstay your welcome. Their ideas are archaic, very seriously out of date. This is the era of AI. What do they know about the latest HI-TECH?

Sabah needs young, “Sabah for Sabahans” leaders in the civil service, in the private sector and in the professions. Above all, in political leadership. 

Young leaders are key to Sabah’s economic future. 

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my