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Many Sabah politicians out-of-date, they lack economic leadership
Published on: Sunday, April 14, 2024
By: Datuk John Lo
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Many politicians in Sabah are still in their dreamy worlds, refusing or are slow to adopt to changes. The old style of “empty promises”, “non-delivery” has gone.
Politicians, including those so-called war lords, if they want to survive and succeed in the next election, should wise up on this evolving dramatic change or get drowned out. No longer can they pull wool over these youngsters’ eyes. The choice for these politicians is very clear, perform or perish.
POLITICIAL LEADERS MUST “UPGRADE!” FOR SABAH’S ECONOMIC SURVIVAL.
Sabahans who have endured Sabah’s economic dark ages since mid-1980s would testify that politicking has resulted Sabah’s economic downfall into the 2nd poorest state.
For the sake of Sabah and our future generations, Sabah’s politicians must elevate themselves from non-productive, self-centred, selfish politicking and transform themselves into economic leaders.
Sabahans should treat politicians vying to succeed in the next election as job applicants. They should demand the highest standards of trust and performance expected of good employees. Sabahans cannot afford non-performing politicians unless we wish for another 40-years of economic dark age. Haven’t we suffered enough?.
Striped down to reality, the politicians who are already campaigning for election, are just like common people applying for a job. Their only aim is to be appointed to political offices as elected representatives. The difference is the nature and importance of being employed by the people as as YBs.
Once appointed, they can deicide, determine policies and directions that have direct bearings on our lives, especially our economic destiny. So far, not many Sabahan elected representatives have been worthy of our trust.
Sabahans should have been very disappointed. Sabah’s past disgraceful economic statistics, low income, high poverty are clear testimonies to this sordid fact.
This being the case, Sabahans must scrutinise on all politicians who want our votes intensely.
The Singapore model of selecting a political leader is best.
[Please watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKjMKmLoaSM]
Don’t emulate Malaya. Situation there is bad, really in a mess. Too many Malayan politicians, though well educated, lack the basic attributes of nation building. Some opportunists are bent of tearing our country apart exploiting race and religion at every twist and turn.
Reject any Sabahan leader who have a tendency to import the Malayan toxic political culture.
WHY ELECT YBs WITH ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP.
One and only purpose, to our improve lives and ensure economic security for our future generations.
Yardstick for comparison is the quality of Singapore leaders.
HOW TO LOOK FOR ECNOMIC LEADERS AMONG SABAH’S POLITICIANS?
Sabah has an oversupply of politicians and aspiring politicians. Very limited number of good and genuine ones. Sadly, few are economic leaders.
Instead of hurling verbal stones at each other, these leaders can prove to Sabahans that they are trust worthy by providing their tract records and/or suggestions in the following fundamentals:
Creditability and Credibility.
Sabah leaders must have these vital qualities. Without these, you don’t employ a person, much less elect any YB who will determine your economic destiny.
Creditability means deserving of credit, honour, reputation and esteem. Credibility means trustworthiness, reliability, dependability and integrity.
Sabah’s sad economic records are due to, in large parts, too many leaders without creditability and credibility. Sad but so true.
Quality of Economic Leadership.
Sabahans must vote in leaders who have an in-depth knowledge of Sabah’s fundamental economic problems. Do they have any solution to our economic problems like those that I will mention below? Can they provide the economic leadership that will give Sabahans a better life within the next 2 or 3 years? Can they reform and transform the Sabah’s economy?
Sabah has been besieged by high unemployment, low growth, resource bad management in timber, oil and gas and oil palm, lowest income and worst inflation in Malaysia.
Leaders without economic leadership can only aggravate Sabah’s economic problems. Do the leaders have the intellect to introduce new industries? Do the leaders have solutions to solve Sabahans’ basic economic problems?
Only politicians with economic leadership qualities will add value on the on-going exercise of economic reformation and transformation.
Management Skills.
Top priority in management skill requirement is the management of civil servants so that they can be transformed to effectively deliver and implement the policies and projects of the government to benefit Sabahans.
If you have to wait for months and years for the government to act or respond to your needs, you know the leaders have no management skill or they are indifferent. Both are troubling.
Management of Sabah/Federal Relationship.
This is a minefield to navigate in any federation arrangement. Sabah’s past leaders have done badly. For the good part of last 60 years since MA63, Sabah has been short changed. Reason?
Our leaders have failed to protect our MA63 rights until recently. Each senior leader should, to justify their quests for support from Sabahans, produce their report cards on their contribution in Sabah/Federal relationship.
Many good leaders are needed to continue the fight to regain our rights in oil/gas, representations in Federal agencies, etc. Most importantly, Sabah must have CLEVER LEADERS TO FIGHT FOR THE OVERDUE PAYMENT OF 40% NET REVENUE.
DISCERN, DEMAND PERFORMANCE.
Sabahans must not allow INEPTOCRACY to infect our state government.
[Ineptocracy means a government characterized by incompetent leaders. The phenomenon of governance or leadership by the incompetent].
For Sabah to rise again, we must have leaders who can contribute to the present economic reformation and transformation.
Our economic future is in how we vote. Be wise to choose carefully, to vote those with economic leadership for the betterment of Sabah.
- 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: [email protected]
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