Less ‘hollow’ talk please, Najib

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak should focus on effectively solving existing problems in Sabah instead of boasting about the state's 'great' investment potential.

COMMENT

At least twice in the last one month, the Prime Minister had hailed the “great investment potential in Sabah.”  On April 20, while launching the Malaysian Unit Trust Week here  he said that “Sabah has great potential to attract investors” and that several sectors had been identified to ensure economic growth for the State.

He said there are ample opportunities to invest in sectors such as renewable energy, oil palm, seaweed planting and tourism.

“There are a number of blue chip companies under PNB and they should grab the opportunities available in Sabah to spearhead and propel the development of the state,”  Najib reportedly said.

No doubt what he said was true and will remain true for a long time to come.

But what Najib said is perceived here as “hollow” talk because while admittedly Sabah has the potential, the question for locals is “haven’t we already been exploited.”

Furthermore isn’t opening up more oil palm plantations in Sabah contradictory to encouraging tourism?

Already tourism here is very much hindered by the federal government’s lack of resolve to help the industry.

Direct international flights have been cancelled because the national flag carrier had allegedly lost billions because of the government’s interference with its management, by appointing inept CEOs to run it.

And then what is the federal government doing about the cabotage policy which had contributed to the murder of local industries here?

Solve issues first
Why are contractors from peninsular Malaya taking so many contracts in Sabah and ordering building materials from Peninsula Malaysia instead of buying locally?

The Federation of Sabah Manufacturers, I am sure, would have a lot more complaints about national policies which are actually killing the Sabah manufacturing sector.

The strange thing is, not many industry players are making noise because of the fear of losing favours with the government.

The corrupted crony system works that way, and now we know why our economic life is getting from bad to worse.

Najib needs to be more aggressive in solving the problems faced by industry players in Sabah instead of just repeatedly talking about great investment potentials.

He should direct the relevant agencies to be more aggressive in identifying and solving our problems in Sabah.