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PLEASE allow me to delve deeper into my article last Sunday on “Sabahans First Policy” in response to a number of calls/messages [some from Sabahan businessmen in West Malaysia] that I have received, most of which are helpful ideas and supportive of this policy recommendation. This can be expected as Sabahans have been suffering from economic deprivation for more than 30 years, we have lost a whole generation. From these comments it is pretty obvious that[a] There is a broad consensus for the Sabah government to implement a comprehensive and coherent Sabahans First Policy. [b] All, without exception, have said it is overdue for such a policy. 

[c] A few have misgivings on the effectiveness of its implementation which is common with a new “far-reaching” policy initiative. [d] Some non-Sabahans who have been doing business for a long time in Sabah are worried of being side-lined.

Sabahans First Policy is not panacea.

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For the policy to benefit all Sabahans in the long term, the Sabah economy must be revived and positioned to a sustainable trajectory of economic expansion with quality growth. To achieve this, the Sabahans First Policy must be accomplished with a phalanx of sound economic policies. Must avoid negative policies which have dominated in the past. We must keep our economy open and be welcoming for domestic and foreign investors.

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In all these, Sabahans’ interest must be taken into consideration first.

Bad implementation can ruin this good policy.

100pc Understandable vast majority of Sabahans want a Sabahans First Policy ASAP. Many impatient Sabahans may demand its immediate implementation. I would urge patience. However good this policy is, please do not rush into it. Give DSP Hajiji’s government time to think through its implementation. Sabah is literally littered with good policy initiatives that have turned toxic cos of poorly prepared execution. Sabah’s problem is generational old and complex. Need time to unravel. 

I would advise tempering of expectation. A Sabahans First Policy can only be as good as we, Sabahans, are prepared to put genuine/honest effects into it.

Will Sabahans give 100pc efforts into Sabahans First Policy?

Of all the comments, I appreciate most this one from a fellow Sabahan. His message is most poignant and succinct and hit home at the heart of the matter. In essence, he said that DSP Hajiji does not have a magic wand to make an instant success of Sabahans First Policy for every Sabahans. As our CM, DSP Hajiji can only do so many things for us in this policy. Sabahans must recognise that the ultimate, long term benefits of this policy can only come from within each and every Sabahans’ hearts, minds, reinforced with an ultimate desire to fight for a better future for themselves. We have a full unity for this purpose.

To do that, Sabahans must cultivate a high degree of discipline and self-policing to prevent mistakes like those in NEP – 

[a] Ali Baba business marriages with Sabahans becoming the Ali and non-Sabahans Baba, selling our birth rights to non-Sabahans. This is already very pervasive in land and trading licences. Many Sabahans are reluctant to work on their land, prefer to sell or lease them to non-Sabahans for easy money. [b] Sales of signatures for a pittance like some professionals have been doing. [c] Many Sabahans are sheltering non-Sabahans in business/contract with their bumiputra status. [d] Politicians and Sabahan-easy-money seekers with influence to get lands/contracts/licences and selling them to non-Sabahans. [e] A Sabahans First Policy must benefit our brothers and sisters in the rural and coastal communities who have been neglected in the last 50 years. Their productivity must increase multi times to lift them out of poverty. All the above economic self-inflicted sabotages perpetrated by our own Sabahans will negate the potential benefits of the Sabahans First Policy totally. Sabahans must stop being our worse enemy for economic progress.

Sabahans must face up to the basic fact that we need to embrace competitiveness and meritocracy, hard work and ingenuity for us to regain control of our economy. A Sabahans First Policy per se, without Sabahans putting in maximum strenuous efforts, will fail or at best, will produce minimum results only.

The Sabahans First Policy is not a closed-door policy. It must benefit Sabahans like the practice in all other Malaysian states and other countries.

I cannot emphasise strongly enough that restoration of our economic pride will be a very tough, the journey treacherous.

Low hanging fruits.

Here are some suggestions that can produce results quickly– [a] Preference in appointments for Sabahan professionals, subject to undertaking by their respective governing bodies that there won’t be signatures for sales galore. [b] Preference for Sabahans in the awards of contracts, again subject to no Ali Baba. [c] Increase of genuine local contents. [d] Employment preference for Sabahans. [e] Preference of Sabahan products for all government procurements subject to competitive pricing.

Successful Sabahans First Policy dependent YBs’ mindset change.

The Sabahans First Policy is highly dependent on the YBs’ sincere support as they will be the eyes and ears, indeed, most importantly, as the economic leaders of its implementation in their respective constituencies.

With due respect, their past style of politics has caused untold sufferings for Sabahans. Time for all the YBs to become economic leaders.

Successful Sabahans First Policy dependent on complete Sabahan unity.

Let me say again. Sabah has suffered economic backwardness for more than 1 generation. Continuing to play partisan, selfish politics will prolong Sabah’s position as Malaysia’s largest economic pariah state. Do Sabahans want this? Of course, NOT! So, let us unite for the Sabahans First Policy.

Support DSP Hajiji for “Sabahans First Policy is for Sabah’s fundamental economic change.

This is not a political statement. It calls for a transformational economic change, a completely new economic direction for a better future. Well documented that Sabahans have been suffering economically for so long because our leaders have excessively indulged in self-aggrandizement politics and have failed badly to resolve basic economics issues of survival, poverty, low incomes, bad infrastructure, employment and general wellness for Sabahans. This must change. The YBs must change. They must reduce useless, unproductive political rhetoric. Their leadership style thus far has given us nothing but miseries. Sabahan leaders must now pay attention to their fundamental duties as elected representatives to solve Sabahans’ bread and butter economics issues. Sabahans can fast-track the implementation of the Sabahans First Policy by telling the YBs and political parties to give this policy their fullest support. Again I say it – Unite for Sabahans First Policy initiative is primal to Sabah’s economic resurgence for Sabahans.

Support DSP Hajiji for a pragmatic “Sabahans First Policy” and its judicious implementation can give us the light in the tunnel.