Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s youth must turn away from street agitation and redirect their energy into building the State’s future — or risk being used as pawns by hidden interests, a leading civil society voice warned.
Delivering a keynote address at the Bangkit Sabahan 2.0 gathering on Sunday, NGO leader Dr Davina Markus said genuine change will never come from shouting on roadsides — but from skill, unity and fighting for Sabah’s rightful place under the law.
“Frustration over corruption, unfair systems and unmet promises is valid. But anger alone fixes nothing. Worse — your passion, your patriotism, is being watched and targeted. There are those ready to twist your grievances to serve their own gain,” she warned hundreds of young attendees.
“True love for Sabah means protecting it — not letting it become a stage for someone else’s agenda.”
Addressing heated online debate over her recent stand, Dr Davina clarified that Sabah’s fight for full immigration control and all rights guaranteed under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) remains non-negotiable.
“Defending our autonomy is not about hiding wrongdoing — it is about taking back authority over our own land, our borders and our destiny,” Davina stressed.
“Youth power is wasted in endless rallies. We need you leading in laboratories, boardrooms, farms and digital hubs,” she said.
Davina urged young Sabahans to master critical fields in artificial intelligence, renewable energy engineering, sustainable finance, modern agritech and digital services — sectors that will define Sabah’s economy in the next decade.
“Others will try to keep you angry and distracted. We want you skilled, sharp and irreplaceable. Sabah does not need more protesters — it needs builders, innovators and future leaders,” she declared.
