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2-10-2025
IN an election season filled with loud rallies and endless promises, four Sabahan women chose a different path. Armed with nothing more than two cars, six placards, and a shared conviction, they embarked on a journey across Sabah — silently urging voters to think, reflect, and act with wisdom.
The movement, called Vote Wisely, was sparked by Angie S. Chin, a Sabahan based in Kuala Lumpur who grew frustrated watching political propaganda flood her WhatsApp groups.
“Sabahans have been denied their rights for too long. Corruption, abuse of power, broken promises — the story keeps repeating. We wanted to remind people that change starts with their vote,” she said.
Together with three companions — Wilna, Anna, and Syafiqah — Angie hit the road, standing at tamus, roundabouts, and roadsides from Tenom, Nabawan, Sook, Keningau, Tambunan, Ranau, Kudat, Kota Belud, Tamparuli, Kiulu, Tuaran, Telipok and Kota Kinabalu.
Rain or shine, they stood in silence with their placards, enduring suspicious police checks, curious stares, and even hostile questions like “Kamu dari parti mana? Siapa penaja kamu?”
The truth was simple: they had no sponsors, no party flags, no entourage following around. Just four women spending their own savings, staying at friends’ homes to save costs, and pushing forward every day with grit and determination.
Their hardships — the exhaustion, the sunburn, the flu from rain-soaked days — became symbols of a larger truth: Sabah’s struggle is real, but so is the determination to fight for better.
Why PRN17 Matters — And Why They Acted
The women’s journey was rooted in five hard truths that every Sabahan must remember as they head to the ballot box:
1. Sabah’s rights under MA63 remain unfulfilled — promises have been made, but true autonomy is still withheld.
2. Corruption and power abuse by existing politicians have repeatedly stalled progress and betrayed the people’s trust.
3. Basic infrastructures remain lacking — from roads, clean water, and electricity to internet connectivity, many rural Sabahans are still left behind.
4. Sabahans reject the power play of local parties controlled by Semenanjung — leaders who serve outside interests instead of Sabah’s future.
5. Votes are still being bought and sold, trapping Sabah in the same cycle of weak, unaccountable leadership.
These are not abstract issues. They are the lived realities that inspired four women to stand by the roadside, holding up words instead of microphones, choosing conviction over comfort.
Their silent stance struck a chord. Drivers slowed down to honk in support, strangers rolled down their windows to raise fists of solidarity, and passerby whispered “thank you.”
For every challenge faced, there was a spark of encouragement that kept them going.
Beyond the roadside, their message has also found a home online. Through Vote.Sabah on TikTok (@vote.sabah), their journey has reached thousands, inspiring especially the young and first-time voters who hold the key to Sabah’s future.
A Call to Sabahans
As the 17th Sabah State Election approaches, their message is clear:
This hardship is not just theirs. It is every Sabahan’s. And it must fuel our determination to finally change Sabah for the better.
“Don’t make the same mistakes again,” Angie says. “Vote wisely. Choose leaders who show up ALL the time and not only nearing elections.
Choose leaders that fights alongside Sabah since DAY ONE. Choose leaders that will carry your hopes — not just their own ambitions.”#~Borneo Herald™
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