Kota Kinabalu: Libaran Member of Parliament Datuk Suhaimi Nasir raised concerns over Sabah’s high unemployment rate despite the State Government claiming a 94 per cent success rate for its flagship Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ 1.0) development plan.
Suhaimi, who is also a Nominated Assemblyman, said the reality on the ground tells a different story, with Sabah recording the highest unemployment rate in the country at 7.7 per cent — more than 169,800 people without jobs.
“This isn’t political spin. These are figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia,” he said in a statement on Tuesday, pointing out that Sabah’s jobless rate is more than double the national average and higher than in states like Sarawak, Kelantan, and Kedah.
While the government reported billions in investments and over 400 projects under SMJ 1.0, Suhaimi questioned how many actual jobs were created for Sabahans, especially the youth.
He also pointed out that although RM1.33 billion was spent on human capital and over 160 TVET centres were aligned, graduates are still struggling to find employment.
“People can’t feed their families with percentages. They need real jobs and income,” he said, urging for an independent audit of SMJ 1.0 to see if it has truly helped the people or if it just looks good on paper.
“Sabahans are aware of what’s happening in their own homes and villages. Development must reach them — not just in reports,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan told the State Assembly that 366 out of 467 initiatives under SMJ 1.0 had been completed as of May this year, covering areas like housing, health, education, and job creation. – AJ
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