Sabah on the right path: CM
Published on: Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Datuk Seri Musa Aman, who has been leading the State since 2003 as the first non-rotation Chief Minister is convinced that Sabah is on the right path and will continue this course if it upholds fundamentals such as racial harmony and good governance.Kicking off the first of the inaugural series of Rotary Lectures at Shangrila Tg Aru Resort Sunday night, he said he wants Sabah to be the place where "we can all have a good life and earn our livelihoods in a clean and secure environment with great prospects.""It has been an interesting and exciting journey thus far, with ups and downs. With opportunities, there are challenges and with success, undoubtedly there will be failures.
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"The important thing is to be focused to keep your eye on the ball, and to move forward. I call upon all of you to work together so that we can bring progress and prosperity to Sabah and our people," he said, in his hour-long talk "My Vision for Sabah" and thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for being a willing ear in bringing about necessary change in Sabah. The distinguished audience included Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Cabinet colleagues, elected representatives, the State and Federal Secretaries and senior civil servants, besides Rotarians.Also present were former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Mohd Salleh and former State Secretary Tan Sri Hamid Egoh. It was organised by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) with Daily Express as the media partner.
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Musa's stewardship has seen Sabah making a paradigm shift from previous administrations like halting granting new logging licences and converting degraded forests into wildlife havens as a future eco-tourism goldmine, opting for greater share in petroleum Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) instead of screaming for higher oil royalty, pressuring GLCs to justify their existence by turning in profits, introducing Communal land Titles to permanently halt the loss of rural native lands which have ready buyers lining up even before the titles are granted and turning to tourism and agriculture as the new economic lifelines. The Chief Minister, who was surprised by a 67th birthday cake at the end of his lecture, said his vision for Sabah is one that "enjoys racial and religious harmony as well as united in our endeavour of transforming Sabah into an economically vibrant state".
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From the end of the Parti Bersatu Sabah reign in 1994 till 2003, Sabah was administered by six successive CMs on two-year rotation basis. Musa said soon as he became CM, he analysed what ails Sabah and concluded that the State needed a new direction and economic model if it was to match the progress of the more developed states in the Federation.The result was his blueprint or Halatuju to embark on other alternatives to fuel the State's economy with emphasis on tourism, agricultural and human capital development. "It was the right decision. Today tourism is generating economic spinoffs, creating jobs and businesses throughout the State…with a record 3.43 million tourists and RM7.25billion in receipts." He said Sabah is now the nation's leading Crude Palm Oil (CPO) producer and bringing in up to RM1b in revenue.Musa, who is also State Finance Minister, said it is important for all to understand that the key to our present and future success lay in the unity of our culturally diverse people."We should be grateful that the prevailing peace and harmony in Malaysia has served us all well.Regardless of the abundance of cultures in Sabah, it has become our own very unique strength."This strength in diversity is the envy of other countries. Some can only hope to experience the racial and religious harmony that exists here," he said.He said it was disheartening to see irresponsible parties making provocative statements that could lead to disastrous consequences.He said this was a cause of concern for all of us as conflict among races can pose a threat to our unity and peaceful way of life. "Hence we must act collectively to protect our diverse cultures, for without it, Sabah would lose her greatest asset."Musa said he had long regarded his role as being "a Chief Minister for all" and since becoming CM had disbursed almost RM300 million in support of Chinese vernacular and Mission schools as well as non-Muslim religious organisations."We also pledge millions in response to requests by NGOs from across the board to fund their programmes and activities. These include chambers of commerce, women organisations, charitable causes, environmental bodies and cultural associations. I am leader for all Sabahans, irrespective of ethnicity and beliefs," he asserted (to applause).Musa noted that some of his political detractors had gone to great lengths to discredit and belittle whatever has been achieved. "Others have gone further to plot and scheme behind closed doors to weaken my administration. Some have questioned my style of governing, my preference for quiet diplomacy instead of the fist banging approach."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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