Sabah’s political turmoil and the state’s biggest corruption scandal involving the waterworks department has captured daily headlines. These two exposures happening simultaneously have put Sabah development on hold.
When Anwar Ibrahim formed the unity government, Sabah appeared fit to form a disunity government. The state government, led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, now includes rebellious Umno members who defied their own party leadership and the opportunistic Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Sabah is likely to follow the same route as the past federal governments, which suffered three changes of leadership after the 2018 general election.
Hajiji Noor’s government was not tested by a vote of confidence in the state assembly and his tenure is likely to be short if the opposition mounts a serious challenge to topple him. The battle lines have been drawn by the warring political parties.
Ordinary Sabahans will suffer most
Those who will suffer the most are the people, pleading for help to mend broken roads, provide access to clean piped water and medical facilities, and funds to repair the dilapidated schools, while selfish politicians bicker over their spoils.
No point in talking about MA63 (the Malaysia Agreement 1963) and Sabah rights when Sabah leaders cannot agree among themselves about how to govern the state in the interest of the people.
Hajiji should take full blame
Former Bersatu members have played the dumb game of ‘catch me if you can’.
The current chief minister started the downfall of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government by declaring that Sabah Bersatu had left Bersatu in October, prior to the general election.
His ill-timed announcement made heads spin and added more fuel to the fire when he informed the public that the former Bersatu members are looking for a new party to park themselves.
The revelations took Sabah into a tailspin, resulting in politicians switching camps and loyalties amid endless debate on Sabah’s constitution, wasting precious time. The unwanted distractions have derailed Sabah’s ‘Maju Jaya’, the state motto that has been displayed prominently on billboards and signboards in every corner of the state.
Hajiji should just come clean and admit that he has made an error of judgment and people might just be more forgiving.
Temporary lull in a storm
While Anwar was busy carrying out his international duties in Indonesia, squabbling Sabah politicians suffered the indignity of having to run to the prime minister to resolve their internal squabbling.
Any advice by Anwar was rendered worthless as Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin declared the political impasse in the state to be far from over, saying two can play that game if they want to play politics.
Bung’s statement is a chilling reminder that Hajiji’s bid to remain in power is only a temporary respite and more upheaval is coming Sabah’s way.
Hajiji’s biggest mistake would probably lie in taking Umno rebels under his wing and giving them plum positions in the Cabinet and government companies. Stealing other party members to stay in power is a new phenomenon in Sabah politics.
The attempted coup against the GRS government and the subsequent purge of Hajiji’s political opponents interrupted the coalition’s ability to deliver its election promises.
While those who sided with Hajiji were handsomely rewarded with the trappings of power, the people of Sabah will have to pick up the pieces not knowing whether they can trust the new state Cabinet to follow through the development agenda promised and the pursuit of MA63 rights.
Forget the Borneo bloc
Sarawakians will not trust their Sabahan counterparts and their “cutthroat” kind of politics. Sabah is full of immature politicians with low principles; even Sabahans don’t even trust their own leaders. No investors will come to Sabah with so much political instability. It’s a real shame.
Corrupt to the core
The Sabah Water Department scandal dubbed “Watergate” has finally seen the light of day. The long-awaited court corruption trial is consuming the daily conversation. The details of the court proceedings are now in public domain after a long hiatus.
The key prosecution witness wasted no time washing his dirty linen and giving a list of who are allegedly on the take – from ministers to department section heads – and the percentage given to them. The alleged corrupt practice is so sophisticated that a spreadsheet is required to deal with the transactions.
An ongoing water shortage and disruption in water supplies has become stressful and cost industries thousands of ringgit in losses in just one day, according to James Ha Haw Yew, Sabah chairman of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers.
Despite the state’s abundance in water resources and high level of 2,600mm annual rainfall, Ha said members are constantly dealing with water issues and this problem is made worse by inefficiencies in water resource supply and management, with non-revenue water reaching as high as 56%, according to a 2015 report by the natural resources and environment ministry.
Businesses are not the only ones affected, consumers in the urban areas face a daily battle to get a consistent supply disrupting their quality of life.
Since the details of Sabah’s “Watergate scandal” are now public knowledge, the government should make the corrupt accountable for their hideous deeds against the people. This can only be done if the government is stable and there is less politicking. - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
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