Sabahans are also economic refugees

Published on: Sunday, March 14, 2021

By: Datuk John Lo

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All too often, we talk, sometimes with sympathy, often with disdain, about refugees in our midst. Do Sabahans know that we are also economic refugees in our own state? Is there a guarantee that our grandchildren will be any different from the poor refugee kids running around, foraging food in garbage dumps? Yes, this can happen if Sabahans continue to ignore losing our economic rights, not having the political courage to address the present heart-breaking trend. Most of last 30 years, politicians have been fighting among themselves, plundering Sabah’s economic assets and cheap selling them to non-Sabahans. The result is we Sabahans already don’t control any significant economic sector. So much so that non-Sabahans also own many Sabahan politicians, under their control and/or are obligated to them. All these, sadly, have happened in last 30 years. So much has been lost, even including our economic souls.

Have Sabahans Lost it all?

My friend and I had lunch in a kopi-tiam in Luyang a few days ago. All 4 hawkers were from Perak. Expressing shock to him, he told me that even many food stalls in rural areas are owned by non-Sabahans. Have Sabahans lost control of everything? These are the UGLY TRUTHS

[1] Oil palm? Lost.

[2] Hotels and Resorts? Lost. [3] Banking? Lost. [4] Motor trade? Lost. [5] Workshop? Lost. [6] Supermarket and Mall? Lost. [7] Wholesale? Lost. [8] Hardware? Lost. [9] Construction? Lost. [10] Food processing? Lost. [11] Manufacturing? Lost. [12] Property development? Lost. [13] Kopi-Tiam? Lost. [14] Land? Lost. [15] Logistics? Lost. [16] Fishing? Lost. [17] Transportation? Lost. [18] Timber? Lost. [19] Timber Contractors? Lost. [20] Private hospitals? Lost. [21] Sabah Forest Industry? Lost. [22] All that Tan Sri Harris has built up? Lost. [23] Consultancy for professionals? Lost. [23] POLITICIANS? Many ARE ALSO LOST!!! How many are working for the economic interest of Sabahans? Or how many can produce sensible/constructive economic ideas? You tell me!

While politicians cannot transform themselves from pit-bull political fighters into useful economic warriors, Sabah’s assets have been drained away under their noses. Non-Sabahans have come in, taken control and used these assets to fatten their wealth into many billions in KLSE.

Can Sabahans Retake Our Economic Destiny?

I am an eternal optimist. I say Sabahans can regain it and I am willing to bet on it if there is a strong will to unite in Sabahans, especially politicians, to undertake a mind-set transformation in the followings. These will be a good start.

Mind-Set Transformation.

Sabah economic rot has started because of the worst possible mind-set of plundering, corruption, selfishness permeating down in all strata of politicians in cohort with many businessmen. This must stop. A new mind-set putting “Sabahans First” needs to be nurtured and implemented. The single greatest obstacle to this mind-set transformation is our inability to capture and put “Sabahans First” as the top priority in our psyche. There is simply too much vested interest. Sabahans are excellent in racial and religious harmony and unity BUT COMPLETELY HOPELESS IN PROTECTING OUR ECONOMIC RIGHTS.

This mind-set transformation must start with politicians. Reasons are obvious. They are the leaders, so they must lead Sabah in the right path. When the politicians have cleaned up their act and got the right mind-set, the civil service will follow suit. Then a NEW SABAH will emerge.

No Shame To Protect Our Economic Rights in “Sabahans First Policy”

Malaysians should be first in Malaysia, not foreigners. Johorians first in Johor. Even HM the Sultan has said many times that his first duty is to look after his people. Politicians in every state has explicit or implicit policies to put their people first, from Kelantan to Johor, across the South China to Sarawak but stop dead in Sabah. They fight for or protect, nurture their people’s economic interest/rights. In Sabah, foreigners and non-Sabahans can work in all levels, do all sort of business including hawker-stalls. Enforcement is either ineffective or totally absent.

Policy Driven, Less Fund Dependent Economic Development.

Politicians are overly dependent on fund based economic development. Even worse, their most common excuse for failure to deliver is “waiting for fund” or “no fund lah. This self- defeating mind set must change. Singapore and China could not have developed so fast, to become economic power houses in the world if their leaders have Sabahan politicians’ mind set. Both Lee Kuan Yew and Deng Xiao Ping started with practically nothing. Singapore was a backwater and China was dirt poor, USA used to throw bread crumb charities to the Chinese, adopt poor Chinese children. Today, little dot Singapore with 4 million people [Same as Sabah] is world class. China is a super power. The greatest tribute USA can give China is American presidents saying China has become a threat to American world leadership. Meantime, Sabah has downgraded ourselves from No. 2 wealthiest state to No. 1 state in poverty.

What have small island Singapore and China with 1. 4 billion people in common? They both started their economic ascendency with policies to empower their people. LKY’s dictum is work hard, innovate, team work or die, zero tolerance for failure and corruption. Deng’s famous pronouncement "Black cat or white cat, if it can catch mice, it's a good cat. ” started the ball rolling. Another Deng’s famous saying is “To Be Rich is Glorious”. He did not say to make non-Chinese rich is glorious. Sabah’s style is “to make non-Sabahans rich is glorious”. This is how we lose control of our economy. This is how Sabah has more poverty than Kelantan.

Use “Sabahan First Policy” To Grow Sabah’s economy,

Sabah’s economy must grow for Sabahans to prosper. Like Singapore and China, Sabah can adopt “Sabahans First” to grow our economy. Given the right empowerment policies, Sabahans can perform as well as any Malaysians in other states. Specific policies must be in the forefront to put Sabahans’ economic interest. Good example is for Sabah’s institutions to provide finance Sabah’s projects and business only. Sabahan businessmen are starved for funds. Chronic sick logic for Sabah, with worst poverty rate, to provide loans to Johor and KL, the 2 most wealthiest places in Malaysia. These funds should have been used in Sabah, for Sabahan companies, in the economic interest of Sabahans.

Likewise, Sabahan professionals/consultants have been trampled and side lined by non-Sabahan/foreign consultants who have been able to grab most of the federal government/private sector big projects. They should be given preference.

I am happy that steps are being taken to rectify these policy anomalies.

I am confident Sabah’s economy can grow with a “Sabahans First Policy”. This policy will infuse confidence in Sabahans, encourage investment by Sabahans, can attract foreign direct investments and most of all, profits made by Sabahans will stay in Sabah.

All that is needed is for politicians, in government and opposition, to stop the petty politics and focus on solving Sabah’s perennial/fundamental economic problems.