Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee expressed concern over the growing disillusionment among ordinary Sabahans towards political parties and politicians.
He pointed to the recent trend of citizens directly appealing to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for help with livelihood issues, highlighting a loss of faith in elected representatives to address their concerns.
He cited the unprecedented step taken by Sabahans last year, presenting petitions to the King during his royal visit to the State.
“This disillusionment was starkly evident when ordinary people took the unprecedented step to present letters and petitions to no less than our Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Permaisuri Agong when the royal convoy took extraordinary efforts to drive from Tawau in the East Coast to Kota Kinabalu and then to Sarawak last year,” he said.
Yong also noted the emergence of NGOs championing Sabahans’ causes, particularly in areas like land issues, labour rights and social problems.
He highlighted the Sabah Law Society taking the lead on the crucial issue of the 40pc net revenue entitlement, while Sabar (Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights) is actively addressing Sabah’s continental shelf and the rejection of the Territorial Sea Act 2012.
“These actions reveal a growing trend whereby citizens and organisations deem it necessary for them to act directly to secure their rights, indicating a loss of faith in politicians to address their concerns effectively,” he said.
Yong urged SAPP members and other political parties to reflect on this trend and regain the trust of the people.
He emphasised the need for the political establishment to address the concerns of ordinary citizens effectively.
“I urge our members to self-reflect on whether SAPP, as a political party, and other political parties are losing the trust of ordinary people.
“I believe that it is still not too late for SAPP and other parties to wake up to the probability that the political establishment needs to regain or to strengthen the trust that people should have of the political establishment,” he said.
