YBs must provide economic leadership

Published on: Sunday, January 16, 2022

By: Datuk John Lo

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IN his winding up speech in the Legislative Assembly on 23 September 2022, CM Hajiji called on all YBs to embrace the challenge of transforming themselves to become the ECONOMIC LEADERS IN THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE CONSTITUENCIES. In his inclusiveness for all Sabahans, he has included the opposition YBs in his invitation.

https://wartaoriental.com/2021/09/24/glcs-have-to-perform-ybs-to-be-economic-leaders/

It is gratifying to see that a number of YBs have acted to Hajiji’s call. Among them are [a] Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, N.39 Tambunan, [b] Datuk Masiung Banah, N57 Kuamut, [c] Jonnybone J. Kurum, N.47 Telupid, [d] Datuk Julita Majungki, N.5 Matunggong. These YBs have approached IDS to do their constituency economic plan. This is a wise move as IDS, being Sabah’s premier research institute, can produce good plans for them.

Equally significant is that Hajiji has also launched economic plans for all the YBs in Kota Belud. In this case, it is the District Office, Puan Diyana who has worked with these YBs to produce their constituency economic plans.

These YBs are the true economic pioneers for their people in the constituencies. Such initiatives will, if carried out diligently and with the support of the people, spearhead a new era for their constituencies and eventually for all of Sabah. The greatest expectation is in the speed up of poverty eradication in Sabah.

My salutations to these YBs who care for the economic welfare of their constituents.

Regrettably, not one YB in the urban constituencies, including my YB, has produced or announced their constituency economic plan.

Those YBs who have not accepted Hajiji’s advice on constituency economic leadership may ask what for? The simple reason is this—-for the last 3o to 40 years, most of the YBs have indulged in politicking at the kampong level. They have enjoyed promoting themselves as “Kampong Jaguh” but many of their voters are still below the poverty line, irking out a living from very basic agriculture in the rural areas and low-income jobs in city and towns like KK, Sandakan and Tawau. Some have hardly any income, no electricity and clean water. To these YBs, what is there to lose in reducing politicking and directing your time and energy to lead your people to some economic progress? Or would you rather enjoy keeping your people at eating from hand to mouth?

To those YBs who may hide behind the excuse of not knowing how. Please talk to IDS.

There is time for politics. Imperatively, there must also be time for economic development. Ideally, once election is over, the YBs should focus 90% of their effects on leading his people in economic development so that the lives of their voters can improve. If they can do that, their constituencies will begin to develop. Like all difficult tasks, once there is will and leadership, the problem will begin to go away. On the other hand, if the YBs who don’t make this effort, I am afraid their voters will remain poor as can be seen in a number of constituencies where the same YBs have remained for 30 to 40 years.

I do not know exactly how many of the elected 73 YBs have initiated or intend to initiate their constituency economic plans. For the sake of their voters, I hope most if not all of them have already got their respective plans ready by now. It would be nice for them to pass their economic plans to the Chief Minister’s Department for review and incorporation into the Sabah Maju Jaya blue print for implementation.

I like to make a special appeal to the YBs in opposition. Let not opposition politicking blind you from recognising that all Sabahans, irrespective of race or religion or where they reside, are hungry for economic progress. As it is now, Sabahans are far behind other Malaysians in all economic endeavours. Sabah has the most resources but the worst off, poorest, lowest household income state. Hajiji’s invitation to you to become economic leaders in your own constituencies should be accepted with an open heart and in the interest of your voters. Reading too much into his invitation is, in my humble opinion, incorrect. Let us keep politics to the minimal, strive for more economic progress so that all Sabahans can enjoy better standard of living. There is always room for political differences but don’t let these differences keep Sabahans backward and in poverty. Political leaders can agree to disagree. One thing they must agree is that Sabahans are in dire need of economic development after more than 30 years of economic deprivation, poverty and indignity.

Dear YBs, it is never too late to improve the economic fate of Sabahans in your constituencies. The best way to start is NOW for you to become their economic leader of your constituency, giving your voters the benefits of your economic leadership. Should you fail to provide economic leadership, your voters, especially the new, better educated 18-year-old voters, may look to other potential leaders with economic charisma and leadership, to be their YBs.

I wish all YBs well in your endeavour to bring real economic progress to your constituencies.