Finally, an awareness to ‘love Sabah’
Published on: Sunday, April 24, 2022
By: Datuk John Lo
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Sabah’s past economic gloomy.
For decades, many Sabahans have all but given up on seeing Sabah progressing in the right direction, many Sabahans have accepted the fate of poverty in our resource-rich state, many families, with means, have migrated, parents have encouraged their children not to return after their overseas study even though they know in their hearts they want them back. But there would be no future for them in Sabah. They would miss their children and, most saddeningly, be unable to hug their grandchildren. This sort of decision must have been heart-wrenching for many parents in Sabah. Parents have and are enduring this supreme sacrifice so that their future generations can have a better future.
Hajiji is swelling awareness of
being Sabahan.
This is new to me. Never have I experienced this swelling of awareness of being Sabahan, the ballooning of “Love Sabah”. In the midst of Sabah economic glooms for the last few decades, it has been pointed out to me that ordinary Sabahans have continued to pray and to keep the flicker of hope alive.
Many individuals and NGOs have slavishly laboured to keep Sabah going, despite all the odds of federal discriminatory treatments for Sabah and many Sabahan leaders have fallen by the wayside.
I know many retired and current senior government officials who have passionately wanted to protect Sabah’s interest if only the political leaders have allowed them to do their work.
Hajiji has injected a new sense of purpose of what is being Sabahan, topmost is his inclusive approach as CM for all Sabahans, his urging to all political leaders to work for Sabah, his openness for suggestions and advises from creditable apolitical individuals and NGOs to solve Sabah’s many perennial problems.
Thus, encouraged by Hajiji’s style, many Sabahans are speaking out on issues that affect their interest adversely. Much more heartening is that many young Sabahans, besides being vocal on Sabah’s interest, are organising themselves to contribute to Sabah’s economic growth. SAYAP [Sabah Young Entrepreneurs and Professionals] is such a group with several unique objectives, some of which are
[a] To promote patriotism [love Sabah] for Sabah.
[b] To work with the Sabah government and contribute growth in Sabah’s economy.
[c] To encourage and facilitate young Sabahans who are outside Sabah to return. [d] To harness synergies for self-development among themselves in their professions and business. Already, these young Sabahans have commenced a number of collaborations with some government agencies and private sector stakeholders. The potential benefits from the contributions of these young Sabahans for Sabah’s future are amazing—-
[a] They possess boundless energy.
[b] They bring new and latest ideas to develop Sabah, especially in the digitalization of the economy.
[c] They have tremendous variety of expertise, some samples—-many type of medical expertise, finance and accounting, digitisation/IT, railways, infrastructure, investment services, start-ups of new businesses, training, oil and gas, marketing.
Above all, they can show how to “Love Sabah” by deeds and contributions, not words.
Political leaders converging on
“Love Sabah”.
Hajiji, Bung Moktar, Dr Jeffry, Shafie, Chan Man Fong, Frankie Poon and a few others are developing an important new commonality, notwithstanding their different politics. This commonality is the focus on economic issues that are important for Sabahans and Sabah’s economy. An excellent example is the day light robbery airfares that airlines are charging for the Hari Raya peak period. After Hajiji, Bung and Frankie Poon have condemned the airfare rip-offs, the PM and Minister of Transport have conceded immediately to bring the airfare down. Such unity in focus by Sabah political leaders from both sides of the political divide is unique, thanks to Hajiji’s inclusiveness style.
STOP PRESS: Most significantly on being the CM for all Sabahans, Hajiji is a political leader of his words. He has announced that the Sabah Government would use the RM125.6m federal grant to build 1500 Rumah Mesra for the poor in 73 constituencies, including those held by the opposition. Excess funds would be used to build/repair roads, suspension bridges and infrastructure.
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/191121/sabah-s-rm125-6mil-federal-special-grant-to-be-used-to-build-1-500-houses-for-the-poor-hajiji/
How many political leaders practise “Love Sabah”? Do they love themselves more?
A Sabahan who is passionately being Sabahan has minced no words. Some selfish political leaders are the biggest hurdle to “Love Sabah”. He has given some well-known names but they can be identified easily by their public statements and actions. There is a fantastic and practical suggestion from another Sabahan whom I respect. For the sake of Sabah’s future, he says, all Government and opposition Sabah MPs and YBs should sit down in one room
[a] Firstly, to familiarise themselves with and agree on Sabah’s most urgent/important economic issues.
[b] Then, to co-ordinate speaking out for Sabah in Parliament and Legislative Assembly on these issues.
[c] To find the most effective manner to liaise with Sarawak’s MPs on these issues and speak out for Sabah and Sarawak in Parliament as the East Malaysian Parliamentary Caucus
By so doing, Sabah political leaders will send these messages [a] to Sabah voters that they are sensible, decent and above all, responsible leaders who can meet as gentlemen to discuss Sabah’s interest. This will give hope to all Sabahans. [b] to the Federal leaders that Sabah political leaders, despite their political differences, can meet and agree on important Sabah’s economic issues. They can no longer spell-bound them with little goodies and manoeuvre them with “divide and rule” to control them. These are two powerful messages which will give Sabah political unity and stability.
Political unity and stability will prove to be critically imperative for Sabah to face the following looming huge problems
[a] Present political uncertainties in W Malaysia which may produce political/economic turbulence.
[b] Current global raging inflation and spiralling of energy and food security/hiking of prices and shortages.
[c] Rising tension in the South China Sea between USA/China.
[d] The financial/social/economic consequences in Sabah from items
[a], [b] and [c]. These are imminent negative forces that will pose grave high-level stress on our society. And rising inflation is already hitting Sabah’s middle and lower-income groups very very hard.
We don’t expect Sabahan MPs and YBs to be heroic, only need them to protect and fight for our economic rights by speaking out in Parliament/Assembly.
- The views expressed here are the views of the writer Datuk John Lo and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.
- If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
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