GRS’ “Stability” is a Lie — Chains on Sabah’s Future

By Daniel John Jambun, 24-8-2025

GRS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai statement, Borneo Post, 22nd August 2025, refers. 

Warisan reaffirms it's position: Warisan struggle is clear and consistent — to defend the rights of the people of Sabah, protect the dignity of our state, and reject hypocritical politics that only serve the interests of a few leaders.

Datuk Joniston Bangkuai can accuse Warisan all he wants, but the people know the truth. A leader abandoned by his own supporters is not a victim — it is proof of incompetence, betrayal, and failure. That is the true face of GRS chief Hajiji Mohd Noor and GRS.

1. The 2023 Political Crisis — Warisan Had Nothing To Do With Bung-Hajiji Tussle

Joniston’s accusation that Warisan and PKDM were hypocrites in January 2023 is a blatant lie. The crisis was a power struggle between Bung Moktar’s Umno and Hajiji’s Bersatu faction. Warisan had nothing to do with it.

In fact, when Hajiji’s government was on the verge of collapse, Hajiji himself came knocking on Shafie Apdal’s door begging to form a coalition government with Warisan. Out of principle, Shafie rejected this offer because Bersatu under Muhyiddin had already betrayed Sabahans in 2020, toppling the Warisan government and forcing an election.

If anyone is guilty of hypocrisy, it is Hajiji and his GRS allies, not Warisan.

2. The Real Hypocrisy — GRS’ Marriage With Malaya Parties

Joniston dares accuse Warisan of hypocrisy, but the reality is this:

Today, GRS survives only because of Pakatan Harapan (PH), led by Malaya-based parties PKR and DAP.

Hajiji clings to power because Anwar Ibrahim saved him. Without PH, GRS would have collapsed.

GRS once shouted “Sabah for Sabahans,” but today they are nothing more than subcontractors of Putrajaya, dependent on Anwar to stay in office.

That is the biggest hypocrisy of all.

3. Poverty and Inequality — GRS’ So-Called “Stability” Fails the People

According to DOSM 2023 data, Sabah remains the poorest state in Malaysia with a poverty rate of 19.5%, nearly five times higher than Selangor (3.7%). Seven out of the 10 poorest districts in Malaysia are in Sabah.

Despite record state revenues of RM7 billion in 2024, ordinary Sabahans still suffer from:

Frequent blackouts — over 300 power outage incidents a year (SESB data).

Water shortages — 40% of rural households still without clean water.

Neglected infrastructure — more than 1,200 km of roads in urgent need of repair.

This is the “stability” GRS is so proud of — stability of poverty, stagnation, and neglect.

4. MA63 Betrayal — Sabah’s Rights Traded Away

Under MA63, Sabah is entitled to 40% of net federal revenue collected from the state. Yet:

Sarawak has secured over RM4 billion annually from oil and gas deals with Petronas.

Sabah, under Hajiji, gets less than RM1 billion, much of it in one-off payments dressed up as “interim” solutions.

GRS has failed to demand Sabah’s rightful share. They remain silent to keep their federal positions intact.

5. JKDM Hypocrisy — GRS Also Complicit

Joniston slams Warisan for not opposing the JKDM scheme. But when Anwar bulldozed JKDM into Sabah, did Hajiji withdraw GRS ministers from the federal cabinet? Did PBS, STAR, or SAPP quit in protest? No. They stayed, enjoying positions while pretending to resist.

That is the real hypocrisy.

Warisan’s Consistency in Defending Sabah

Unlike GRS, Warisan has a clear and proven record:

Introduced and enforced oil and gas sales tax in 2019, generating hundreds of millions for Sabah.

Consistently demanded Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement under MA63.

Exposed and resisted the 2020 betrayal, when Bersatu toppled the democratically elected Warisan government.

The Way Forward

What GRS calls “stability” is in reality:

Stability of silence — Sarawak secures billions, Sabah secures excuses.

Stability of subservience — federal agencies dictate Sabah’s policies while GRS nods along.

Stability of stagnation — poverty, youth unemployment, and migration of 30,000 Sabahans a year.

Sabah does not need GRS’ false “stability.” Sabah needs leadership that is courageous, principled, and visionary — leadership that fights for rights, dignity, and the future of our people.

That is what Warisan offers: not empty slogans, not betrayal, but real struggle, real results, and real hope for Sabah.

Versi Bahasa Malaysia :

“Kestabilan” GRS Adalah Pembohongan — Rantai Yang Mengikat Masa Depan Sabah

Kota Kinabalu: Merujuk kepada kenyataan Ketua Penerangan GRS, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, Borneo Post, 22 Ogos 2025.

Warisan menegaskan pendiriannya: perjuangan Warisan adalah jelas dan konsisten — mempertahankan hak rakyat Sabah, melindungi maruah negeri kita, dan menolak politik hipokrit yang hanya menguntungkan segelintir pemimpin.

Datuk Joniston Bangkuai boleh menuduh Warisan sesuka hati, tetapi rakyat tahu kebenaran. Seorang pemimpin yang ditinggalkan oleh penyokongnya sendiri bukanlah mangsa — ia adalah bukti ketidakcekapan, pengkhianatan, dan kegagalan. Itulah wajah sebenar Hajiji dan GRS.

1. Krisis Politik 2023 — Warisan Tiada Kaitan Dengan Pertelingkahan Bung-Hajiji

Tuduhan Joniston bahawa Warisan dan PKDM bersikap hipokrit pada Januari 2023 adalah pembohongan terang-terangan. Krisis tersebut hanyalah perebutan kuasa antara Umno pimpinan Bung Moktar dan puak Bersatu pimpinan Hajiji. Warisan langsung tidak terlibat.

Malah, apabila kerajaan Hajiji hampir tumbang, Hajiji sendiri datang mengetuk pintu Shafie Apdal merayu untuk membentuk kerajaan campuran dengan Warisan. Atas prinsip, Shafie menolak tawaran ini kerana Bersatu di bawah Muhyiddin sudah pun mengkhianati rakyat Sabah pada 2020 dengan menjatuhkan kerajaan Warisan dan memaksa pilihan raya negeri.

Jika ada sesiapa yang bersalah kerana hipokrasi, ia adalah Hajiji dan sekutu GRS-nya, bukan Warisan.

2. Hipokrasi Sebenar — Perkahwinan GRS Dengan Parti Malaya

Joniston berani menuduh Warisan hipokrit, tetapi realitinya:

Hari ini, GRS hanya hidup kerana bergantung kepada Pakatan Harapan (PH), yang diterajui parti-parti Malaya seperti PKR dan DAP.

Hajiji kekal berkuasa kerana diselamatkan oleh Anwar Ibrahim. Tanpa PH, GRS sudah lama tumbang.

Dulu GRS melaungkan “Sabah untuk Rakyat Sabah,” tetapi kini mereka hanyalah subkontraktor Putrajaya, bergantung pada Anwar untuk terus berkuasa.

Itulah hipokrasi paling besar.

3. Kemiskinan dan Ketidaksamarataan — “Kestabilan” GRS Menghancurkan Rakyat

Menurut data DOSM 2023, Sabah kekal sebagai negeri termiskin di Malaysia dengan kadar kemiskinan 19.5%, hampir lima kali ganda lebih tinggi berbanding Selangor (3.7%). Tujuh daripada 10 daerah termiskin di Malaysia terletak di Sabah.

Walaupun mencatatkan hasil negeri tertinggi RM7 bilion pada 2024, rakyat biasa Sabah masih menderita akibat:

Gangguan elektrik kerap — lebih 300 insiden setahun (data SESB).

Krisis air — 40% isi rumah luar bandar masih tiada air bersih.

Infrastruktur terabai — lebih 1,200 km jalan raya perlu dibaiki segera.

Inilah “kestabilan” yang dibanggakan GRS — kestabilan kemiskinan, kemunduran, dan pengabaian.

4. Pengkhianatan MA63 — Hak Sabah Digadai

Di bawah MA63, Sabah berhak menerima 40% hasil bersih persekutuan yang dikutip dari negeri ini. Namun:

Sarawak berjaya mendapat lebih RM4 bilion setahun daripada perjanjian minyak dan gas dengan Petronas.

Sabah, di bawah Hajiji, hanya menerima kurang daripada RM1 bilion, kebanyakannya bayaran sekali gus yang digayakan sebagai “penyelesaian interim.”

GRS gagal menuntut hak sebenar Sabah. Mereka kekal diam demi mempertahankan jawatan persekutuan mereka.

5. Hipokrasi JKDM — GRS Juga Bersubahat

Joniston menuduh Warisan tidak menentang skim JKDM. Tetapi apabila Anwar memaksa JKDM ke Sabah, adakah Hajiji menarik balik menteri-menteri GRS dari kabinet persekutuan? Adakah PBS, STAR, atau SAPP meletak jawatan sebagai bantahan? Tidak. Mereka kekal, menikmati jawatan sambil berpura-pura menentang.

Itulah hipokrasi sebenar.

Konsistensi Warisan Dalam Membela Sabah

Berbeza dengan GRS, Warisan mempunyai rekod yang jelas dan terbukti:

Memperkenalkan serta menguatkuasakan cukai jualan minyak dan gas pada 2019, menjana ratusan juta untuk Sabah.

Konsisten menuntut hak 40% hasil Sabah di bawah MA63.

Membongkar serta menentang pengkhianatan 2020, apabila Bersatu menjatuhkan kerajaan Warisan yang dipilih secara demokratik.

Jalan Ke Hadapan

Apa yang GRS panggil “kestabilan” sebenarnya adalah:

Kestabilan diam diri — Sarawak mendapat berbilion, Sabah mendapat alasan.

Kestabilan tunduk — agensi persekutuan mengawal dasar Sabah sementara GRS hanya mengangguk.

Kestabilan kemunduran — kemiskinan, pengangguran belia, dan penghijrahan 30,000 rakyat Sabah setiap tahun.

Sabah tidak perlukan “kestabilan” palsu GRS. Sabah perlukan kepimpinan yang berani, berprinsip, dan berwawasan — kepimpinan yang memperjuangkan hak, maruah, dan masa depan rakyat kita.

Itulah yang ditawarkan Warisan: bukan slogan kosong, bukan pengkhianatan, tetapi perjuangan sebenar, hasil sebenar, dan harapan sebenar untuk Sabah.

Daniel John Jambun ialah Presiden

Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS)#~Borneo Herald™