PETALING JAYA: Sabah activist Johan Ariffin Samad has dismissed claims that the state saw minimal development under local parties, calling such views unfair and misleading.
He highlighted former chief minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh’s legacy, including industrial and agricultural advances like the still-operating Desa Dairy Farm in Kundasang.
Harris, who led Sabah under local party Berjaya from 1976 to 1985, is still remembered as a key figure in Sabah’s economic development.
Johan was responding to Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who blamed political instability under local parties (1963–1994) for underdevelopment. Bung claimed “real change” only began in 1994 when Barisan Nasional (BN) took over.
Johan said Umno failed to lift Sabah out of poverty, focusing development on urban areas like Kota Kinabalu while neglecting rural infrastructure.
He also criticized Umno for not resolving the undocumented migrant issue despite the RCI on “Project IC” and for weakening state leadership through the chief minister rotation system.
“Bung is the biggest hypocrite for blaming local parties and crediting Umno for development,” he said.
