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IT is natural. It is proper. When in a foreign country, all Malaysians must very proudly profess ourselves as Malaysian. Within Malaysia, we can call ourselves Penangites, Selangorians, Johoreans, Kehadans, Sarawakians and Sabahans with the same degree of pride. Leaders from each respective state are expected to look after the interest of their states and people. 

Nothing wrong for Hajiji to promote “Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga”, “Sabah for Sabahans” or “Sabahans First”.

Hajiji’s “Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga” Makes Very Good Sense.

Hajiji has mentioned “Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga” many times, the latest was at the USNO’s annual conference in Kota Belud. Much to my liking, he also said that Sabah party must be the anchor/dominant players in government after the coming election. 

Be on extreme alert if any leader who discourages Sabahans to be less Sabahans. Or induce us to relinquish our rights to govern Sabah. Or that non-Sabahans can manage Sabah better. Their intention is dubious and blatantly dishonest. It is to dope us.

I am not in politic. I see “Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga” in the prism of simple logic and practical economics. 

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/06/15/rumah-kita-kita-jaga-local-parties-must-lead-sabahs-political-future-says-hajiji/180481

If Sabahans Do not Jaga Rumah Kita, Who Can We Trust to Jaga?

We better be cautious of anyone trying to convince us not to Jaga Kita Rumah.

It is highly irresponsible to farm out Sabah which is our only rumah, to be “jaga” by non-Sabahans for any reason. If we are unwilling or incapable of “Jaga rumah kita” we deserve to be poor. Like it has been for the last 40 years.

After more than 60 years of independence, Sabahans still cannot unite to juga rumah? Still cannot unite to build Sabah’s economy? Do Sabahans have some intelligence handicaps to jaga rumah kita?

Autonomy for Branch Manager is a Fairytale.

The president of a Sabah party is like the chairman of a company. The head of a Malayan party in Sabah is like a branch manager. Nothing personal. No disrespect is meant.

Have never heard that a branch manager can be truly autonomous or independent in the corporate world. Neither in politics. 

A branch manager is a branch manager. He is not the boss. His boss is in KL. The boss can remove the branch manager. The boss makes all the final important decisions. The branch manager can recommend only. In a crunch, the boss always wins. Either the Branch manager obeys or gets the sack.

It is the same system of disciple in politics as in the corporate world.

For survival, the branch manager must be subservient, deferential to the boss in KL even at the expense of Sabah.

Let us be serious: Do Sabahans want a Chairman of a Sabah party or a Branch Manager of a Malayan party as Our CM?

Your answers to the following pointers will tell you how you should choose;

Pointers 1:  A Chairman of a Sabah party has same status as President of any Malayan party in matters affecting the nation and state. They will meet on equal footing, sit at the same table. Whereas, the Branch Manager of a Malayan party will have no local standi to attend the same meeting.

Pointer 2: On critical important issues that affect Sabah’s interest, the Chairman of a Sabah party can negotiate, stand firm or demand. Unlikely the Branch Manager can or dare to make a stand in the interest of Sabah. If he dares to go against his boss in KL, he will find himself without a job soon.

Pointer 3: What would a Branch Manager of a Malayan party do if he has received an instruction from his boss that will affect Sabah’s interest adversely? More than likely, he would say “yes, boss.” 

The chairman of a Sabah party can say NO!

Pointer 4: Never short of predatory Malayan businessmen who are often backed by some Malayan powerful political war lords coming to Sabah. To them, streets in Sabah are paved with gold. Remember the attempt to black mail and overthrow of Hajiji government? This is not an isolated case. 

Many “funny” proposals have been coming in. Hajiji, as CM, has rejected many. Hajiji can say “The Buck Stops Here!” Can a Branch Manager of a Malayan party afford to say same to his boss and political war lords from KL?

Pointer 5. Before Hajiji became CM, the special grant given to Sabah was RM26.7m a year from 1974 to 2018. Hajiji became CM in 2020. 

He got it up to RM125.6m in 2022. Up again to RM129m in 2023. Up again to RM300m in 2024. Up again to RM600m in 2025 [budget announcement]. A whopping of 2247% increase since Hajiji took office in late 2020.

Do you think a Branch Manager of a Malayan party as Sabah’s CM can get these increases? If can, why didn’t it happen before?

Hajiji must have demanded very strongly as Chairman of GRS to get such huge increases every year. A Branch Manager will not open his mouth to demand for fear of losing his job.

Pointer 6. Hajiji has said that he would not comprise on Sabah’s constitutional rights of 40% share of revenue. Would a branch manager of a Malayan party make a similar stance? Has any branch manager made a similar stance?

Pointer 7. This is the absolute reality for all Sabahans to grasp and appreciate. To Malayan leaders, Sabah is at the fringe of national politics. 

Sabah leaders can be “kautim” in the past. Their political “do or die” battle ground is Malaya. For Sabah to be taken seriously, we must “Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga Baik Baik”. We need a strong CM from a Sabah party with a convincing majority mandate from the 2025 election, to do it. A Branch manager cannot do the job.

How about Sabah party JV with a Malayan party?

In view of current political reality, JV is ok on conditions that [1] CM and Minister of Finance must be from the Sabah party.

[2] Majority of Cabinet is from Sabah party.

No longer must Sabah be ruled by non-Sabah party. For our own sake and our future generations, Sabah must never become a vassal state of anyone. Sabahans must be the master of Rumah Kita.

Sabah/Federal Relationship is very complex. Hajiji has Improved Sabah’s Position Considerably.

Examples: Hajiji has got back rights in oil/gas, power generation, board representation in Petronas and IRB [Income Revenue Board], huge increase in annual special grant.

What sort of CM does Sabah need to continue the present trajectory? In all probability, a branch manager of a Malayan party will be unable to look after Sabah’s interest as good as the Chairman of a Sabah party can. He cannot serve 2 masters, i.e. Sabah and his Malayan party. 

Given the present and future complexities of Sabah/Federal relationship, Sabah will need a “Sun Tze” type of CM supported by a strong majority mandate in DUN after the 2025 election. 

My favourite philosophy of “Sun Tze” is “Victory without fighting”. Calm, no shouting matches, no finger pointing, no passing the buck, no threats. Just get the job done! When it is done, no blowing of the trumpets. This is political leadership maturity. This is statesmanship.

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]