Kota Kinabalu: Warisan candidate for Inanam Jessica Edna Majimbun called for a reassessment of Sabah’s resource management, noting differences in development outcomes between Sabah and Sarawak despite both states having similar natural advantages.
She said Sabah’s reserves stand at RM8.6 billion compared to Sarawak’s RM45 billion, despite both states having comparable oil and gas resources, timber, population size and tourism potential.
“Why is Sarawak five times richer? Because Sarawak defends its rights, manages its wealth with discipline and reinvests its natural resource income into the people, not into politics,” she said.
Jessica also noted the difference in development spending, with Sarawak allocating RM8 billion for development in 2025 compared to Sabah’s RM1 billion.
“Sarawak can spend eight times more on infrastructure, schools, water projects, rural roads, agriculture, digitalisation and community uplift. Sabah, despite similar wealth, receives crumbs. This is why Warisan says Sabah must be saved,” she said.
Additionally, she raised concerns about how Sabah’s natural resources are being utilised, citing the Sabah Mineral Mining case.
“While Sarawak uses its natural wealth to build the future, Sabah has seen its wealth weaponised for backdoor politics. This is why Sabah is poor. This is why Sabah lags behind,” Jessica said.
She also expressed concern that Sabah’s constitutional entitlement to 40 per cent of net revenue from the Federal Government remains unresolved, following a High Court ruling in the State’s favour.
Jessica suggested that while SMJ Energy represents progress, it may not be sufficient to address Sabah’s broader economic challenges, particularly when compared to Sarawak’s Petros, which generates substantial annual revenue.
“Sabah must claim every sen of its constitutional rights. Sabah’s natural resources must benefit the people, not political elites. How much longer must Sabah suffer before we save it from leaders who keep us poor? she said.
