Sabah should chart its own course, not copy Sarawak - analyst

 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Associate Professor of Politics and Government Studies Dr Arnold Puyok during a talk titled ‘A Tale of Two Autonomies: Learning from Sarawak, Deciding for Sabah.’ NSTP/MOHD ADAM ARININ

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah should chart its own autonomy model based on its unique political and historical realities instead of replicating Sarawak's approach wholesale, a political analyst said.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Associate Professor of Politics and Government Studies Dr Arnold Puyok said many had questioned why Sabah and Sarawak had progressed at different rates despite both pursuing their rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

His remarks came amid public debate after several Sabah assemblymen recently said the state should not emulate Sarawak's development agenda.

Arnold, who hails from Sabah, said Sarawak's success was built on decades of institution-building, a stronger political identity and a clear sense of purpose that predated the formation of Malaysia.

He said Sarawak had developed its constitutional and political identity long before 1963, enabling successive leaders to institutionalise the "Sarawak First" agenda.

By comparison, Sabah, then known as British North Borneo, was administered largely for resource extraction rather than state-building, with a distinct Sabahan identity emerging later under local political leadership.

Arnold said Sabah should not limit itself to learning from Sarawak alone but also adopt best practices from countries around the world.

Rather than looking only to Sarawak, Arnold said Sabah should also adopt best practices from around the world.

"Singapore is an example of a country that became successful by adapting international best practices rather than relying on a single model," he said during a talk titled 'A Tale of Two

Autonomies: Learning from Sarawak, Deciding for Sabah,' organised by The Sabah Society at its office in Damai Plaza here last night.

Among his recommendations, Arnold said Sabah should define clearer priorities when negotiating with the federal government, particularly on constitutional rights.

He also proposed institutionalising power-sharing through a governance charter to promote inclusive representation in the Cabinet, government-linked companies and statutory bodies.

He said Sabah should also focus on improving fiscal management, strengthening expertise in public finance and empowering local governments to increase revenue collection within their existing jurisdiction.

"We should train our people well. Send them to the best universities and institutions around the world, bring them back and let them build a highly competent civil service capable of implementing autonomy effectively.

"We should concentrate on the low-hanging fruits that can generate more income for Sabah."

Responding to suggestions that Sabah should consolidate political power under a single dominant coalition, as seen in Sarawak, Arnold said political pluralism was a natural feature of Sabah's democracy.

He said the real challenge lay in building strong institutions capable of implementing policies effectively, regardless of which coalition was in power.

"People say that Sabah is fragmented. That is why it underperforms. But then again, my argument is, fragmentation is also the hallmark of the plural democratic society.

"What Sabah lacks is not cohesion, so much as strong institutions," he said.

Arnold also said Sabah should better communicate the administrative powers that have already been devolved by the federal government, noting that many Sabahans remained unaware of the progress that had been made. - NST