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Borneo Herald
1.65PM MYT, 16-10-2025
By Datuk Honorsius Bosuin
THE attempt by Datuk John Ambrose to paint the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-PH government as an “economic success story” compared to the Warisan administration is a textbook case of political distortion and selective storytelling.
His sweeping statement that Warisan “brought no real economic change” ignores both the economic data and the context of Warisan’s short two-year tenure (2018–2020) — during which Sabah faced the worst global pandemic in a century.
⚖️ 1. Warisan Inherited a Broken System — and Began Structural Reforms
When Warisan took office in 2018, Sabah’s fiscal management and state-linked investments were heavily centralised and opaque, with questionable deals inherited from Barisan Nasional.
Warisan’s first task was not to chase headlines, but to clean house:
A full audit of state GLCs and land allocations was initiated.
Unprofitable or redundant agencies were consolidated.
New transparency rules were introduced for state tenders and procurement.
The Sabah Credit Corporation and Sabah Development Bank were strengthened to channel financing directly to SMEs and local entrepreneurs — not cronies.
These measures laid the foundation for the responsible fiscal management that GRS now claims credit for.
💰 2. Warisan Left Sabah With Healthy Reserves and Zero Debt Growth
John Ambrose’s claim that Warisan “did nothing” to grow reserves is factually misleading.
When Warisan assumed office, Sabah’s cash reserves stood at RM1.8 billion.
By 2020, despite the pandemic, reserves were RM2.35 billion — an increase, not stagnation.
What GRS conveniently omits is that Warisan achieved this while maintaining zero new debt, and without receiving any additional oil royalty or federal revenue share — despite repeated MA63 negotiations.
GRS’ much-touted RM6.0 billion reserve today is built on federal windfalls, petroleum price recovery, and carryover funds — not superior governance.
📉 3. Economic Growth Under Warisan Was Real — Until the Pandemic Hit
Between 2018 and 2019, Sabah recorded its highest private investment inflow in over a decade, totalling RM11.2 billion (MIDA data).
Tourism arrivals surpassed 4.1 million, generating over RM9 billion in tourism receipts.
Warisan’s SME empowerment programs, Rural Entrepreneurship Hubs, and Momogun Agropreneur initiative created tens of thousands of new micro-businesses and jobs — until the Covid-19 lockdowns halted the global economy.
For John Ambrose to use pandemic-induced job losses as “proof of failure” is disingenuous and insulting to the global context every government faced in 2020.
🌾 4. Warisan’s Policies Were People-Centric, Not Cosmetic
While GRS brags about aid packages, Warisan’s economic philosophy was empowerment over dependency:
Agropreneur Program: boosted smallholder productivity through modernised farming and access to export markets.
Youth and SME Grants: RM60 million in direct support disbursed through state-linked banks, with record repayment rates.
Warisan focused on systemic reforms — not short-term handouts designed for political mileage.
🧾 5. GRS’ “Economic Boom” Is Fueled by Federal Transfers, Not Merit
The alleged RM6 billion “reserve growth” under GRS is not new money generated through productive investment.
It comes largely from:
Increased federal development grants, not state-generated revenue.
Deferred expenditure on rural projects.
Unspent allocations from delayed infrastructure tenders.
In other words, Sabah’s “savings” grew because the government didn’t spend money meant for the people — not because it created wealth.
⚠️ 6. What GRS Won’t Admit
If GRS’ economic management is as brilliant as claimed, then explain:
Why is Sabah still the poorest state in Malaysia by median household income?
Why has the unemployment rate risen to above 7% in 2024 — the highest in Malaysia?
Why are rural electrification, water supply, and internet access still far below national standards?
Why has foreign direct investment in Sabah fallen by 45% since 2021 (MIDA, 2024)?
The truth: GRS has mastered press releases, not progress.
🕊️ 7. Warisan Built Trust, GRS Built Illusions
Warisan’s economic record is about laying honest groundwork for a fair, sustainable Sabah economy — not self-glorifying propaganda.
The Warisan government respected transparency, empowered rural communities, and defended state rights under MA63.
GRS’ claim of “economic transformation” is a façade — built on federal dependency, unspent allocations, and public relations spin.
The people of Sabah deserve leadership that tells the truth, not one that hides behind selective figures and shallow bragging.
Datuk Honorsius Bosuin is a Warisan supreme council member.#Borneo Herald™
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