CM DATUK Seri Hajiji and the presidents of component parties launched the GRS coalition on 28th May 2022. In his speech, Hajiji touched on the rationale and direction of the newly registered coalition at great length. Most impressive goals! Never in Sabah’s history has a political party or coalition having devoted such focus to give a comprehensive vision for Sabah.
The main thrusts by Hajiji were on the 4 pillars, [a] Sabah First. [b] Sabah Forward. [c] Sabah Prosper. [d] Sabah United.
No doubt a lot of thoughts have gone into these 4 pillars. Implementing them will be tremendously challenging but its success will improve and add much meaning to the lives of Sabahans in many major ways.
The economic impacts of GRS’ 4 pillars.
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I don’t understand the complexity of politics. As an apolitical Sabahan, I will leave the savvy political analysts to dissect the political impacts of GRS’s new blue print for Sabah.
I will confine myself to some of their economic impacts, what they may mean for Sabahans.
The 4 pillars, in context of economic perspectives, are intricately inter-related. The all-over success of the GRS’s dream for Sabah will be highly dependent on the success of implementation of each and every one of these 4 pillars in a coherent manner.
The sum of these 4 pillars will be much greater than the pillars individually.
The successful implementations of these pillars will bring economic benefits that Sabahans have been yearning for.
Essence of the 4 pillars.
[a] Sabah First.
Every Sabahan should and must support this Sabah First policy for our sake and for future generations.
Mighty strange if any Sabahan does not. It is only natural that we Sabahans should/must put ourselves, our future generation FIRST.
In reality, putting Sabah First has never been realised till to date.
A cursory examination of Sabah’s massive economic/financial leakages and the loss of ownership/control of the oil palm plantation, oil/gas and inordinately high poverty rate have proven that Sabahans have been relegated to LAST, NOT FIRST.
True also the scarcity of jobs for Sabahans. Realigning to Sabah First policy is the most difficult to restructure, will take years, lots of determination and political courage.
Sabah First is key to our future, it is our rights. Sabah First is an excellent mission.
[b] Sabah Forward.
Sabah has done relatively well in tourism. Can do much better with more focus and targeted marketing in attracting higher value arrivals. SICC will take years to be fully utilised after the pandemic.
Sabah is the largest producer in oil palm, oil/gas, but Sabah and Sabahans have not benefitted.
Bringing Sabah Forward in economic terms, will be tough especially in economic restructure. Hajiji has started this already. More on this later.
[c] Sabah Prosper.
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To implement Sabah Prosper, the GRS-BN government will need to restructure Sabah’s economic ownership like oil palm ownership, to ensure Sabah’s economic resources and activities benefit Sabahans first and not non-Sabahans. Must plug all the massive financial leakages.
[d] Sabah United.
Unity for economic development for Sabah at the political level encompassing all political parties, is the only key to our future. Political disunity or indifference on Sabah’s economic future will be catastrophic.
Sabah can’t tackle the inequitable, discriminatory treatment from the federal government if there is no unity among Sabahan political leaders.
Non- GRS political parties don’t have to join GRS if they don’t want to. However, it will be perquisite for them to upgrade their present blurry vision for Sabah by offering their alternative economic visions.
This will lead to a healthy political competition, away from personal, scandal and small-time political attacks which don’t benefit anyone.
Chances of success?
Hajiji has made an excellent start with his policy of inclusiveness, investor-friendly policies, open door approach and Sabahans First Policy which have produced largest ever investment of RM25 billion since taking office.
ITP investments will bring in additional RM12 billion and 80,000 jobs. All these investments will generate a number of new industries and will give Sabah the much-needed economic diversifications, especially away from oil palm. Many jobs at all levels will be available.
For sure, there is a lot of hard work to implement GRS’ 4 pillars but the results will be rewarding. Below are some items that need urgent attention:
[a] Infrastructures.
Road, ports, power, water and wiFi. Each of these are critical. Sepangar’s extension is underway, power is being addressed with connection from Bakun, Sarawak and new power generation plants under the Sabah Gas Master Plan, 5G will be implemented in KK soon.
[b] Economic value chain.
Hajiji has succeeded in attracting a number of new, some high-tech industries. The challenge for the authorities to produce clear cut economic value chains for each of them for the benefits of Sabahans.
The mistake of no value chain in oil palm must not be repeated.
[c] Reduce high cost of doing business.
No doubt—-Sabah is the most expensive business destination from logistics, airline tickets, water, electricity in Malaysia in comparison with other states and potential returns on investment. This must come down.
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[d] Implementation bottle-necks.
It is often said that we are our biggest enemy. Very true in our implementation process. Procrastinations, no action or snail-pace response are common. Prompt decision is pretty much unheard of. Time and urgency are strange in Sabah. This must change.
Ultimately, the ideals of the 4 pillars require much hard work, unity of purpose, genuine political leadership for a Sabahan Sabah.
New economic model.
The old economic model has failed very badly, in fact, disastrously. It has been a millstone around every Sabahans’ neck for decades—-highest unemployment, lowest household income, economic disenfranchisement of Sabahans etc etc. Refreshing to have a new vision now that GRS has introduced its 4 pillars.
To ensure prompt implementation of the 4 pillars and their benefits for Sabahans, a new Sabah economic model will be most timely and appropriate.
The most suitable Sabahan to do this is Professor Datuk Kasim Mansur. He is UMS’ Dean of the Business, Economics and Accountancy Faculty.
What will Sabah’s new economic model achieve?
The GRS’ 4 pillars, God willing, can be achieved in a substantial manner. They will give Sabah the first ultimate, distinctive Sabah-centric economic development model. It will launch Sabah onto an exciting trajectory of economic development.
No longer will Sabah have to beg for crumbs nor waiting, hat in hand, for charities for development funds from the federal government. Sabah will strive to secure our rightful/legal/equitable entitlements under the constitution/ MA63 combined with good governance, responsible political leadership, attractive investor policies.
We must be assertive to chart our economic destiny as a full partner within Malaysia.
The last piece of jigsaw puzzle for Sabah to become the best model state is Sabah political unity within the Sabah-centric development model for we already have perfect racial and religious harmonies.
In the era of heightened “Sabahan awareness”, Sabah voters especially the younger ones, will appreciate political leaders who can rise above selfish political interest, to practise “love Sabah”.
- The views expressed here are the views of the writer Datuk John Lo and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express.