Piala Dr Julia Ongkili di Tamparuli

16-8-2025

TAMPARULI : Satu kejohanan bolasepak melibatkan 100 pasukan akan diadakan di Padang Pekan Tamparuli pada 7 September, 2025 ini.

Penganjur utama kejohanan "cabaran sepakan penalti" Tamparuli, Dr Julia Ongkili, berkata sebanyak 70 pasukan lelaki dan 30 pasukan perempuan dijadual mengikuti pertandingan unik itu.

                            Dr Julia Ongkili 

"Peserta kejohanan ini terbuka kepada semua yang berumur 18 tahun ke atas dan setiap pasukan dianggotai oleh tujuh orang saja pemain.

"Hadiah menarik wang tunai dan medal disediakan antaranya untuk kategori juara 'winner pool' dan 'loser pool', penjaring gol terbanyak, penjaga gol terbaik dan pasukan/pengurusan terbaik," katanya sambil menambah hadiah adalah untuk kedua-dua kategori jantina.

Menurut Dr Julia tarikh akhir penyertaan ialah 30 Ogos 2025. Peserta boleh menghubungi Muhammad Azley di talian 01116220961.

Sementara itu, Dr Julia, anak bekas Menteri Kehakiman, Datuk Dr James Ongkili, turut disebut-sebut bakal dicalonkan oleh Parti Impian Sabah (PIS) bagi kawasan DUN Tamparuli.

GRS’ So-Called “Economic Miracle” — Inflated Figures, Empty Promises, and a Legacy of Selling Sabah Cheap

By Daniel John Jambun, 16-8-2025

JAMES Ligunjang’s glowing praise of Hajiji Noor’s “remarkable achievements” reads less like independent analysis and more like a well-polished advertisement for the GRS propaganda machine.

Behind the cherry-picked numbers and self-congratulatory speeches lies a reality every Sabahan knows too well — higher cost of living, stagnant wages, worsening rural poverty, and the reckless selling of our land, forests, and minerals to cronies and outsiders.

The GRS government’s headline boasts — state reserves rising from RM3.59 billion in 2020 to RM7.5 billion in 2023, revenue hitting RM8.6 billion in 2024 and projected at RM9.5–10 billion in 2025 — are meaningless without transparency on how those figures were achieved.

1. “Record Revenue” Built on Selling Sabah’s Assets, Not Building Its Future

Independent industry sources and field data suggest these numbers are not the result of genuine economic transformation, but of one-off windfalls and fire-sale deals:

Over 70,000 hectares of forest handed to private companies in just two years through opaque concessions.

Timber extraction licences covering hundred thousands of acres, granted to cronies for 30 to 100 years, locking away Sabah’s resources for generations.

Mineral rights, including coal exploration licences, granted to West Malaysian cronies linked to Putrajaya elites.

Carbon credit agreements signed without public tender or robust environmental safeguards.

Accelerated extraction of oil, gas, and timber with little reinvestment into downstream industries or local job creation.

Even worse, 288,000 acres of Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) land — land that should have been returned to the people of Sabah — is now in foreign hands due to bankruptcy. If this land had been allocated at 15 acres per household, 19,200 Sabah families could have owned farmland, built homes, and secured a decent living for life. That opportunity has been stolen from our people and handed to outsiders.

At the same time, Esteel Enterprise Sdn Bhd, a company owned by foreigners, has applied for a 55,000-hectare coal mining concession in the Sipitang Forest Reserve at Long Pasia. 

Zoop Technology Sdn Bhd, also foreign-owned, has applied for a 16,000-hectare coal mining concession in the north of the Sapulut Forest Reserve, Tongod District. To date, the GRS government has failed to explain who approved such massive deals, under what terms, and and how — if at all — Sabahans will benefit.

This is like selling the family gold to pay for one fancy dinner — you can’t do it twice, and the family will be poorer forever after.

2. What Is There to Be Proud of?

GRS boasts about RM8.6 billion in reserves as if it’s an economic triumph.

Reality check: Two years ago Sarawak has RM41 billion in reserves and is projected to hit RM50 billion next year. Sarawak achieved this by reclaiming control over its oil, gas, and electricity — something GRS has failed or refused to do.

While Sarawak invests its wealth into infrastructure, industry, and people, Sabah under GRS is busy signing away land, forests, and minerals to outsiders at bargain prices.

3. Rising Reserves Mean Nothing if the People Remain Poor

Sabah remains the poorest state in Malaysia. Our GDP per capita lags far behind Sarawak, poverty rates are double the national average, and many rural villages still lack clean treated water, reliable electricity and burdens with muddy road. 

What good are “record reserves” if:

Teachers and students in rural schools live in dilapidated quarters and hostels?

Farmers still lack basic farm-to-market roads?

Patients must travel hours for dialysis or surgery?

A government that hoards money while neglecting essential services is not prudent — it is heartless.

4. “Political Stability” Is Just Code for Surrender to Malaya — and Shielding Corruption

James celebrates “stability,” but that stability came at the expense of Sabah’s dignity and integrity. Under GRS, stability does not mean honest governance — it means protecting corrupt allies while punishing only the expendable.

In one of Sabah’s largest corruption scandals, only two individuals have been charged in court, while nine others — against whom solid evidence exists — remain untouched. This selective prosecution is not an accident; it is the direct product of a political arrangement designed to shield cronies, preserve power, and silence accountability.

GRS clings to power not through the people’s mandate, but through a backroom pact with Pakatan Harapan in 2023 — a deal that sold out Sabah’s fight for its 40% revenue entitlement under MA63 in exchange for political protection from Putrajaya.

Sarawak used its stability to strengthen autonomy and reclaim economic rights. GRS used its stability to take photo ops with Anwar Ibrahim, hand out concessions to political friends, and make sure the powerful remain above the law.

5. The Real Economic Trajectory — Dependence, Not Independence

GRS’ so-called transformation rests on three fragile pillars:

Extractive industries that deplete finite resources.

Federal allocations that can be cut at any time.

Political patronage that rewards cronies over citizens.

Without a serious plan to industrialise Sabah, develop high-value sectors, and grow Sabah-owned enterprises, the state will remain trapped in dependency. Young Sabahans will continue migrating to the Peninsula for work, while outsiders profit from our land and resources.

Warisan’s Position Is Clear

Economic growth must be built on Sabah-owned industries, transparent governance, accountable, and fair resource control — not short-term cash from selling our land and minerals. Reserves should be used to invest in Sabahans, not locked away while the people suffer.

Hajiji’s so-called “economic miracle” is not a legacy of prosperity — it is a legacy of liquidation. Future generations will inherit a state stripped of its assets, still begging Putrajaya for crumbs, while GRS leaders pat themselves on the back.

Sabah deserves leaders who build, not brokers who sell.

Daniel John Jambun is President of

Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS)

Versi Bahasa Malaysia:

“Keajaiban Ekonomi” GRS — Angka Ditiup Besar, Janji Kosong, dan Legasi Menjual Sabah Murah

PUJIAN melangit James Ligunjang terhadap “pencapaian luar biasa” Hajiji Noor lebih mirip iklan berbayar untuk mesin propaganda GRS daripada analisis bebas.

Di sebalik angka yang dipilih secara terpilih dan ucapan memuji diri, tersembunyi realiti yang setiap rakyat Sabah sudah maklum — kos sara hidup yang meningkat, gaji yang tidak berubah, kemiskinan luar bandar yang semakin parah, dan tindakan tidak bertanggungjawab menjual tanah, hutan, serta mineral kita kepada kroni dan pihak luar.

GRS berbangga dengan “rekod” kononnya rizab negeri naik daripada RM3.59 bilion pada 2020 kepada RM7.5 bilion pada 2023, hasil mencecah RM8.6 bilion pada 2024 dan diunjur RM9.5–10 bilion pada 2025 — namun semua ini tidak bermakna tanpa ketelusan tentang bagaimana angka tersebut dicapai.

1. “Rekod Hasil” Dibina Daripada Menjual Aset Sabah, Bukan Membina Masa Depannya

Sumber industri bebas dan data lapangan menunjukkan angka ini bukan hasil transformasi ekonomi sebenar, tetapi keuntungan sekali sahaja hasil daripada jualan tergesa-gesa aset negeri:

Lebih 70,000 hektar hutan diserahkan kepada syarikat swasta dalam hanya dua tahun melalui konsesi yang kabur.

Lesen pembalakan meliputi ratusan ribu ekar, diberikan kepada kroni untuk tempoh 30 hingga 100 tahun, mengunci sumber Sabah untuk generasi akan datang.

Hak mineral, termasuk lesen penerokaan arang batu, diberikan kepada kroni dari Semenanjung yang mempunyai kaitan dengan elit Putrajaya.

Perjanjian kredit karbon ditandatangani tanpa tender terbuka atau langkah perlindungan alam sekitar yang kukuh.

Pengekstrakan minyak, gas dan kayu balak dipercepatkan tanpa pelaburan semula yang signifikan dalam industri hiliran atau penciptaan pekerjaan tempatan.

Lebih malang, 288,000 ekar tanah Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) — tanah yang sepatutnya dipulangkan kepada rakyat Sabah — kini berada di tangan pihak asing akibat muflis. Jika tanah ini diagihkan 15 ekar setiap isi rumah, 19,200 keluarga Sabah sudah boleh memiliki tanah pertanian, membina rumah, dan menikmati kehidupan yang selesa sepanjang hayat. Peluang ini telah dirampas daripada rakyat dan diserahkan kepada orang luar.

Pada masa yang sama, Esteel Enterprise Sdn Bhd, syarikat milik asing, telah memohon konsesi perlombongan arang batu seluas 55,000 hektar di Hutan Simpan Sipitang di Long Pasia.

Zoop Technology Sdn Bhd, juga milik asing, telah memohon konsesi perlombongan arang batu seluas 16,000 hektar di utara Hutan Simpan Sapulut, Daerah Tongod. Sehingga kini, kerajaan GRS masih gagal menjelaskan siapa yang meluluskan projek gergasi ini, di bawah terma apa, dan bagaimana — jika ada — rakyat Sabah akan mendapat manfaat.

Keadaan ini ibarat menjual emas pusaka keluarga untuk membayar satu jamuan mewah — ia tidak boleh diulang, dan keluarga akan menjadi miskin selama-lamanya.

2. Apa Yang Perlu Dibanggakan?

GRS berbangga dengan rizab RM8.6 bilion seolah-olah ia kejayaan besar.

Hakikatnya: Dua tahun lalu Sarawak sudah memiliki RM41 bilion rizab dan dijangka mencecah RM50 bilion tahun depan. Sarawak mencapainya dengan mengambil semula kawalan terhadap minyak, gas dan tenaga elektrik — sesuatu yang GRS gagal atau enggan lakukan.

Sementara Sarawak melabur kekayaannya dalam infrastruktur, industri, dan rakyat, Sabah di bawah GRS sibuk menandatangani penyerahan tanah, hutan, dan mineral kepada pihak luar dengan harga murah.

3. Rizab Meningkat Tidak Bermakna Jika Rakyat Kekal Miskin

Sabah kekal sebagai negeri termiskin di Malaysia. KDNK per kapita kita jauh ketinggalan di belakang Sarawak, kadar kemiskinan dua kali ganda purata kebangsaan, dan banyak kampung luar bandar masih tiada air bersih terawat, elektrik yang stabil, serta jalan yang hanya berlumpur.

Apa gunanya “rekod rizab” jika:

Guru dan pelajar di sekolah luar bandar tinggal di kuarters dan asrama yang usang?

Petani masih tiada jalan asas untuk ke pasar?

Pesakit perlu menempuh perjalanan berjam-jam untuk rawatan dialisis atau pembedahan?

Kerajaan yang menyimpan wang tetapi mengabaikan perkhidmatan asas bukanlah bijak — ia kejam.

4. “Kestabilan Politik” Hanyalah Kod Untuk Tunduk Kepada Malaya — dan Melindungi Rasuah

James memuji “kestabilan”, tetapi kestabilan itu dibayar dengan maruah dan integriti Sabah. Di bawah GRS, kestabilan bukan bermakna tadbir urus yang jujur — ia bermakna melindungi sekutu yang korup sambil menghukum mereka yang boleh dikorbankan.

Dalam salah satu skandal rasuah terbesar Sabah, hanya dua individu didakwa di mahkamah, manakala sembilan yang lain — walaupun bukti kukuh wujud — tidak disentuh langsung. Pendakwaan terpilih ini bukan kebetulan; ia adalah hasil perjanjian politik yang direka untuk melindungi kroni, mengekalkan kuasa, dan membisukan akauntabiliti.

GRS berpegang kepada kuasa bukan melalui mandat rakyat, tetapi melalui pakatan belakang tabir dengan Pakatan Harapan pada 2023 — satu perjanjian yang menggadaikan perjuangan Sabah untuk hak pulangan 40% hasil negeri di bawah MA63 demi perlindungan politik daripada Putrajaya.

Sarawak menggunakan kestabilan untuk memperkukuh autonomi dan mendapatkan semula hak ekonomi. GRS menggunakan kestabilan untuk bergambar dengan Anwar Ibrahim, menyerahkan konsesi kepada rakan politik, dan memastikan golongan berkuasa kekal kebal undang-undang.

5. Halatuju Ekonomi Sebenar — Kebergantungan, Bukan Kemerdekaan

Transformasi kononnya oleh GRS berdiri di atas tiga tonggak rapuh:

Industri ekstraktif yang menguras sumber terhad.

Peruntukan persekutuan yang boleh dipotong pada bila-bila masa.

Patronaj politik yang mengutamakan kroni berbanding rakyat.

Tanpa rancangan serius untuk memajukan perindustrian Sabah, membangunkan sektor bernilai tinggi, dan memperkukuh perusahaan milik rakyat Sabah, negeri ini akan terus terperangkap dalam kebergantungan. Anak muda Sabah akan terus berhijrah ke Semenanjung untuk bekerja, sementara orang luar mengaut untung daripada tanah dan sumber kita.

Pendiran Warisan Jelas

Pertumbuhan ekonomi mesti dibina atas industri milik rakyat Sabah, tadbir urus telus, akauntabiliti, dan kawalan sumber yang adil — bukannya wang segera hasil jualan tanah dan mineral. Rizab negeri harus digunakan untuk melabur dalam rakyat Sabah, bukan disimpan sementara rakyat menderita.

Kononnya “keajaiban ekonomi” Hajiji bukanlah legasi kemakmuran — ia adalah legasi pelupusan aset. Generasi akan datang akan mewarisi negeri yang telah dilucutkan sumbernya, masih terpaksa mengemis sisa daripada Putrajaya, sementara pemimpin GRS menepuk dada memuji diri.

Sabah layak mendapat pemimpin yang membina, bukan broker yang menjual.

Daniel John Jambun ialah Presiden

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

WARISAN’S EXPANSION IS ABOUT SABAHANS EVERYWHERE — NOT PERSONAL AMBITION

By Daniel John Jambun, 15-8-2025

WARISAN'S expansion into West Malaysia is not about personal ambition — it is about ensuring that the few hundred thousand Sabah citizens who live, work, and study in the peninsula are not forgotten, ignored, or left voiceless.

Critics who attack this move fail to recognise a simple truth: Sabah First means all Sabahans, whether they are in Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Selangor, or Johor. Our reach may now be national, but our heart remains firmly in Sabah.

It is worth reminding the public that Norazlinah Arif, a former Warisan Assemblyman, rose to political office under the Warisan flag and influence. Today she sits comfortably under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) — a government riddled with corruption, scandal, and shameless submission to Malayan political masters. Her defection was not an act of principle, but an act of political self-preservation. A leader with true dignity would rather fight from the opposition bench than sell their soul to a corrupt regime for position and favour.

Rather than standing shoulder to shoulder with her brothers and sisters in defending Sabah’s dignity and rightful share of resources, she chose the easy path — pleading with the federal government and turning a blind eye to the struggles of her own people. This is not leadership; it is political opportunism at the expense of the very state she once pledged to serve.

On the “Shafie for Prime Minister” Smear

On the accusation that Warisan’s expansion is merely a strategy for Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal to project himself as Prime Minister — let us be clear: this is nothing but political propaganda. Even if it were true, what exactly is wrong with that? Are Sabahans and Sarawakians supposed to accept that only West Malaysian leaders are fit to lead this nation?

The Federal Constitution places no such restriction — it does not say that the Prime Minister’s chair is reserved exclusively for leaders from the Peninsula. Sabah and Sarawak are equal partners in the formation of Malaysia. There is no shame — and there should be great pride — in having a capable leader from East Malaysia step forward to serve the whole country. Those who mock this idea are not defending Sabah’s dignity; they are reinforcing the colonial mindset that has kept East Malaysia politically sidelined for decades.

Our Mission Has Never Wavered

From the start, Warisan’s mission has been clear — to protect Sabah’s rights under MA63, defend our resources, and uphold the pride and dignity of our people. Establishing branches in Johor, Selangor, and other states is a strategic way to connect with our people where they are, to keep them informed of our vision, and to unite Sabahans across Malaysia.

Sabahans in the peninsula are part of our state’s story and future. Many have left home to seek education or employment but remain deeply connected to Sabah’s struggles — from fighting for fair revenue distribution to challenging policies that marginalise our state. Warisan’s expansion ensures that no Sabahan is left behind in our political struggle.

Those attacking our expansion conveniently ignore the facts: hundreds of thousands of Sabahans live, work, and study in the peninsula. Are they less Sabahan simply because they have crossed the South China Sea? Should they be abandoned to be courted only by parties from Malaya? We say no.

We reject the notion that fighting for Sabah’s rights must be confined to our shores. To win the battles that matter — whether it’s 40% revenue, oil and gas control, or the defence of our land — we must be present and organised wherever decisions are made. Sometimes that means being in the room, not shouting from outside the door.

Warisan will never apologise for defending Sabahans everywhere. We are, and will remain, a party born in Sabah, rooted in Sabah, and fighting for Sabah — whether that fight takes place in Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, or any corner of Malaysia where Sabahans live.

Those who fear this strategy should ask themselves one question: Do you want a party that waits for change, or a party that goes where it must to bring that change home?

Versi Bahasa Malaysia:

PENGEMBANGAN WARISAN ADALAH UNTUK SEMUA ORANG SABAH — BUKAN KERANA KEPENTINGAN PERIBADI

PENGEMBANGAN Warisan ke Semenanjung Malaysia bukanlah kerana kepentingan atau cita-cita peribadi — ia adalah untuk memastikan ratusan ribu rakyat Sabah yang tinggal, bekerja dan belajar di Semenanjung tidak dilupakan, tidak diabaikan, dan tidak dibiarkan tanpa suara.

Pengkritik yang menyerang langkah ini gagal memahami satu hakikat mudah: Sabah First bermaksud semua orang Sabah, sama ada mereka di Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Selangor atau Johor. Capaian kita kini mungkin bersifat nasional, tetapi hati kita tetap teguh di Sabah.

Perlu diingatkan kepada umum bahawa Norazlinah Arif, bekas ADUN Warisan, naik ke jawatan politik di bawah pengaruh dan panji Warisan. Hari ini beliau duduk selesa di bawah Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) — sebuah kerajaan yang dipenuhi skandal, rasuah, dan tunduk tanpa malu kepada tuan politik di Malaya. Tindakannya melompat parti bukanlah atas dasar prinsip, tetapi demi menyelamatkan kedudukan sendiri. Pemimpin yang benar-benar bermaruah lebih rela berjuang di bangku pembangkang daripada menjual jiwa kepada rejim korup demi jawatan dan habuan.

Daripada berdiri bahu-membahu bersama rakyat Sabah mempertahankan maruah dan hak negeri, beliau memilih jalan mudah — merayu kepada kerajaan persekutuan dan menutup mata terhadap penderitaan bangsanya sendiri. Ini bukan kepimpinan; ini adalah oportunisme politik yang menggadaikan negeri yang suatu ketika dahulu beliau ikrarkan untuk berkhidmat.

Mengenai Fitnah “Shafie untuk Perdana Menteri”

Berkaitan tuduhan bahawa pengembangan Warisan hanyalah strategi untuk Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal menonjolkan diri sebagai Perdana Menteri — biar jelas: ini hanyalah propaganda politik. Kalau sekalipun ia benar, apa salahnya? Adakah orang Sabah dan Sarawak perlu menerima bahawa hanya pemimpin dari Semenanjung layak memimpin negara ini?

Perlembagaan Persekutuan tidak meletakkan sebarang larangan sedemikian — ia tidak menyatakan bahawa kerusi Perdana Menteri hanya untuk pemimpin dari Semenanjung. Sabah dan Sarawak adalah rakan setaraf dalam pembentukan Malaysia. Tidak ada rasa malu — malah sepatutnya menjadi kebanggaan — apabila seorang pemimpin berkebolehan dari Malaysia Timur tampil untuk memimpin seluruh negara. Mereka yang memperlekehkan idea ini bukan mempertahankan maruah Sabah, tetapi mengukuhkan mentaliti kolonial yang telah lama meminggirkan Malaysia Timur dari arus kepimpinan negara.

Misi Kami Tidak Pernah Berubah

Sejak awal, misi Warisan jelas — mempertahankan hak Sabah di bawah MA63, melindungi sumber negeri, dan memelihara maruah rakyat. Menubuhkan cawangan di Johor, Selangor dan negeri-negeri lain adalah langkah strategik untuk menghubungkan rakyat kita di mana sahaja mereka berada, menyampaikan visi kita, dan menyatukan semua orang Sabah di seluruh Malaysia.

Orang Sabah di Semenanjung tetap sebahagian daripada kisah dan masa depan negeri kita. Ramai yang berhijrah untuk menuntut ilmu atau mencari pekerjaan, tetapi mereka kekal terikat dengan perjuangan Sabah — daripada menuntut agihan hasil yang adil hinggalah mencabar dasar yang meminggirkan negeri kita. Pengembangan Warisan memastikan tidak ada seorang pun rakyat Sabah yang tertinggal dalam perjuangan politik kita.

Mereka yang menyerang langkah ini sengaja menafikan fakta: ratusan ribu rakyat Sabah tinggal, bekerja dan belajar di Semenanjung. Adakah mereka kurang “Sabah” hanya kerana menyeberangi Laut China Selatan? Haruskah mereka diserah bulat-bulat untuk dipancing parti-parti dari Malaya? Jawapan kami: tidak.

Kami menolak tanggapan bahawa perjuangan hak Sabah hanya terhad di dalam sempadan negeri. Untuk memenangi perjuangan penting — sama ada 40% hasil, kawalan minyak dan gas, atau pertahanan tanah kita — kita mesti hadir dan teratur di mana sahaja keputusan dibuat. Kadangkala ia bermakna kita perlu berada di dalam bilik mesyuarat, bukan sekadar melaung dari luar pintu.

Warisan tidak akan sekali-kali meminta maaf kerana mempertahankan rakyat Sabah di mana sahaja mereka berada. Kita adalah, dan akan kekal, sebuah parti yang lahir di Sabah, berakar di Sabah, dan berjuang untuk Sabah — sama ada perjuangan itu berlaku di Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, atau di mana-mana sahaja rakyat Sabah berada.

Kepada mereka yang takut dengan strategi ini, tanya diri anda satu soalan: Adakah anda mahukan parti yang hanya menunggu perubahan, atau parti yang pergi ke mana sahaja demi membawa perubahan itu pulang?

Daniel John Jambun ialah Presiden

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

Pengangguran rendah, 6.2% di Sabah — Satu kebenaran atau indah khabar dari rupa?

Pengangguran lebih tinggi di Sabah berbanding statistik yang dilaporkan?

Oleh Daniel John Jambun, 14-8-2025

PENGUMUMAN penuh bangga Kerajaan Negeri Sabah bahawa kadar pengangguran Sabah telah menurun kepada 6.2% pada suku kedua 2025 mungkin kedengaran seperti satu kejayaan besar — tapi rakyat Sabah berhak bertanya: adakah ini kemajuan sebenar atau sekadar kosmetik statistik?

Angka yang diumumkan oleh Menteri Pembangunan Perindustrian dan Keusahawanan, Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, datang tanpa jawapan jelas kepada soalan-soalan penting:

Formula dan kriteria tepat apakah yang digunakan untuk mengira kadar pengangguran ini?

Adakah pekerja sambilan, bermusim, dan separa menganggur dikira sebagai “pekerja sepenuh masa”?

Adakah pekerjaan daripada projek pelaburan yang hanya diumumkan tetapi belum bermula sudah dimasukkan ke dalam kiraan?

Berapa banyak daripada “peningkatan” ini sebenarnya berpaksikan kontrak sementara yang akan luput selepas acara atau projek jangka pendek berakhir?

Jika benar kadar pengangguran Sabah menurun, mengapa ribuan graduan masih menghantar puluhan permohonan kerja tanpa sebarang maklum balas? Mengapa anak muda terbaik kita masih berhijrah ke Semenanjung atau luar negara untuk mencari rezeki? Jika ini dikatakan “kemajuan”, mengapa rakyat tidak merasainya dalam poket dan kehidupan seharian mereka?

Jika kerajaan yakin dengan angka 6.2% ini, buktikan dengan membuka data kepada ahli ekonomi bebas, Jabatan Perangkaan, dan penelitian umum. Jika tidak, angka ini hanyalah alat politik untuk mengaburi mata rakyat.

Lebih penting lagi, jika Sabah benar-benar mahu menarik dan mengekalkan pelaburan, kerajaan mesti menerbitkan data jelas dan boleh disahkan mengenai tahap kesediaan infrastruktur perindustrian dan utiliti — bukan sekadar janji kosong. Rakyat berhak tahu:

Berapa peratus kawasan perindustrian mempunyai bekalan elektrik stabil dan bekalan air tanpa gangguan?

Berapakah indeks kos penghantaran sebenar bagi Sabah berbanding pesaing serantau?

Sejauh mana pantas masa pengendalian di pelabuhan kita dan keberkesanan pemprosesan pentadbiran berbanding ekonomi jiran?

Berapa banyak kawasan yang masih mengalami masalah kekurangan air yang menjejaskan komuniti dan pelabur?

Apakah langkah-langkah konkrit yang diambil untuk mengatasi dasar Persekutuan yang tidak mesra kepada iklim pelaburan industri dan antarabangsa Sabah?

Pelabur tidak mudah terpedaya dengan slogan. Ramai yang sudah menarik diri dari Sabah setelah mendapati pelabuhan kita sesak, bekalan elektrik tidak stabil, dan masalah kekurangan air boleh menghentikan operasi kilang selama berhari-hari.

Tanpa data keras ini, keyakinan pelabur akan terus rapuh — dan sebarang dakwaan pemulihan ekonomi hanya akan kedengaran kosong. Sabah tidak memerlukan teater politik yang disolek sebagai kejayaan ekonomi. Kita perlukan pekerjaan yang berkekalan, infrastruktur yang berfungsi, dan kerajaan yang berani berdepan kebenaran — bukan bersembunyi di sebalik angka yang dipilih untuk sedap didengar.

Sehingga itu, 6.2% hanyalah satu angka — dan rakyat Sabah masih membayar harga untuk sistem yang rosak.

Daniel John Jambun ialah Presiden

Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS)

The english version :

SABAH'S 6.2% Unemployment Claim — Without Infrastructure Truth, It’s Just a Political Mirage

Public Demands Full Transparency on Job Figures, Infrastructure Readiness, and Utilities That Investors Rely On

Kota Kinabalu: The State Government’s proud declaration that Sabah’s unemployment rate has fallen to 6.2% in Q2 2025 sounds like a victory headline — but Sabahans have a right to ask: is this genuine progress or just statistical cosmetics?

The figure, announced by Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, comes without clear answers to pressing questions:

What exact formula and criteria were used to calculate the unemployment rate?

Are part-time, seasonal, and underemployed workers counted as “fully employed”?

Were jobs from proposed but not yet commenced investment projects wrongly included in the count?

How much of the so-called improvement is built on temporary contracts that vanish after events or short-term projects end?

If Sabah’s unemployment rate is truly down, why are thousands of graduates still sending dozens of job applications with no reply? Why are our brightest young people still migrating to the Peninsula or overseas for work? If this is “progress,” why can’t Sabahans feel it in their wallets and their daily lives?

If the government is confident in the 6.2% figure, let them open the books to independent economists, the statistics department, and public scrutiny. Otherwise, this number will remain nothing more than a self-serving political prop.

More critically, if Sabah is to truly attract and sustain investment, the government must publish clear, verifiable figures on the readiness of industrial infrastructure and utilities — not vague promises. The public deserves to know:

What percentage of industrial zones have reliable power supply and uninterrupted water service?

What is the real shipping cost index for Sabah compared to regional competitors?

How competitive are our port handling times and administrative processing compared to neighbouring economies?

How many areas still face water shortages that disrupt both communities and investors?

What steps are being taken to overcome federal policies that are unfriendly to Sabah’s industrial and international investment climate?

Investors are not fooled by slogans. Many have already walked away from Sabah after discovering that our ports are congested, our electricity supply is unreliable, and our water shortages can halt factory operations for days.

Without this hard data, investor confidence will remain shaky — and any claim of economic recovery will ring hollow. Sabah doesn’t need political theatre dressed up as economic success. We need jobs that last, infrastructure that works, and a government brave enough to face the truth instead of hiding behind cherry-picked numbers.

Until then, 6.2% is just a number — and the people of Sabah are still paying the price for a broken system.

Daniel John Jambun is President of

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

GRS Cakap Stabiliti, Tapi Hak Sabah Dijual — Rakyat Tidak Boleh Lagi Ditipu

          L S Lim, seorang aktivis politik Sabah. 

Oleh L S Lim, 12-8-2025

KEPADA rakyat Sabah yang saya kasihi, sudah terlalu lama kita diberi janji manis tetapi di belakang tabir hak kita digadai seperti barang murahan. Datuk Joniston Bangkuai boleh bersembunyi di sebalik slogan “kestabilan” dan “kerjasama”, tetapi kebenaran tetap kebenaran: GRS hanyalah boneka politik Malaya.

Siapa Hipokrit Sebenar?

Joniston menuduh Warisan hipokrit kerana kononnya bekerjasama sementara dengan UMNO pada 2023. Tetapi dia diam seribu bahasa tentang bagaimana GRS sendiri sanggup memeluk DAP dan PKR dari Semenanjung demi kekal berkuasa. Kalau bekerjasama dengan parti Malaya demi “matlamat besar” itu salah, kenapa GRS melakukannya setiap hari?

Kestabilan Atau Ketakutan?

GRS tidak stabil. GRS takut.

Takut kehilangan jawatan. Takut kes-kes rasuah lama diheret ke mahkamah. Takut tuan-tuan politik di Putrajaya menarik balik sokongan. Inilah sebab mereka tunduk setiap kali Malaya melanggar hak perlembagaan kita, termasuk tuntutan 40% hasil bersih di bawah MA63.

GRS Bukan Membantu, Tetapi Merosakkan Masa Depan Sabah

GRS bukan saja gagal membantu rakyat Sabah — mereka sedang merosakkan masa depan negeri ini. Dengan membiarkan hak kita dirompak, membiarkan sumber kita seperti balak, tanah, mineral, minyak, dan sumber asli lain jatuh ke tangan kroni, mereka sedang memusnahkan harapan kita untuk Sabah yang makmur.

Kekayaan Sabah yang sepatutnya menjadi milik rakyat kini masuk ke poket segelintir elit politik. Mereka bukan penyelamat — mereka perosak masa depan.

Warisan Bertanding di Semua 73 Kerusi — Atas Permintaan Rakyat Sabah

Keputusan Warisan untuk bertanding di semua 73 kerusi DUN bukanlah gimik politik, tetapi permintaan langsung daripada rakyat Sabah sendiri yang sudah muak dengan pemerintahan boneka GRS.

Rakyat mahu pilihan yang jelas: sebuah kerajaan Sabah yang berani menentang rasuah, mempertahankan hak negeri, dan mengembalikan kekayaan negeri kepada rakyat — bukan mengisi poket pemimpin. Warisan akan melawan rasuah GRS yang telah mengaut kekayaan negeri termasuk sumber asli, minyak, dan mineral untuk kepentingan peribadi.

PBS — Dari Parti Berprinsip Kepada Parti Senja

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), yang dahulunya berjuang demi maruah Sabah, kini menjadi sekadar alat GRS untuk kekal berkuasa. Mereka telah kehilangan prinsip asal, mengkhianati visi perjuangan mereka sendiri, dan kini hanyalah parti senja yang berjuang untuk kekal relevan walaupun majoriti pengundi Sabah telah meninggalkan mereka. PBS bukan lagi suara rakyat — mereka hanyalah gema kosong dalam dewan GRS.

GPS Sarawak Lawan, GRS Tunduk

Joniston suka guna GPS Sarawak sebagai contoh. Bezanya, GPS menuntut kuasa minyak dan gas, menetapkan syarat kepada Putrajaya, dan mempertahankan maruah rakyatnya.

GRS? Mereka menunduk, memohon peruntukan, dan pulang membawa janji kosong — sambil sumber negeri kita seperti konsesi balak diserah kepada kroni selama 100 tahun!

Kestabilan Tanpa Maruah = Kehinaan

Kestabilan yang lahir daripada ketakutan dan penyerahan kuasa politik bukan kestabilan — itu kehinaan. Warisan bertanding di semua 73 kerusi kerana kami mahu sebuah kerajaan Sabah yang stabil dan bermaruah sejak hari pertama, tanpa bergantung kepada tali kawalan politik luar.

Warisan: Konsisten & Berani

Dari awal, Warisan tegas: Sabah mesti diperintah oleh anak negeri yang bebas daripada campur tangan parti Malaya, sama ada UMNO, PKR, atau DAP. Kami tidak tunduk kepada ancaman. Kami tidak jual hak rakyat.

Pilihan Di Tangan Rakyat

Pilihan raya ini adalah ujian maruah kita. Adakah kita mahu kekal diikat pada tali boneka, atau kita mahu berdiri sebagai rakyat Sabah yang bebas menentukan nasib sendiri?

GRS boleh terus menipu diri sendiri dengan slogan “kerjasama” dan “kestabilan”, tetapi Warisan akan terus berjuang — bukan untuk jawatan, tetapi untuk hak, maruah, dan masa depan Sabah.

Tolak Parti Malaya! Tolak Parti Rasuah! Selamatkan Sabah!

The english version :

GRS Talks Stability, But Sells Out Sabah’s Rights — The People Can No Longer Be Deceived

TO my fellow Sabahans, for far too long we have been fed sweet promises while, behind the scenes, our rights are traded away like cheap goods. Datuk Joniston Bangkuai can hide behind slogans of “stability” and “cooperation”, but the truth remains: GRS is nothing more than Malaya’s political puppet.

Who’s the Real Hypocrite?

Joniston accuses Warisan of hypocrisy for supposedly working temporarily with UMNO in 2023. But he stays completely silent about how GRS itself willingly embraced DAP and PKR from the Peninsula just to stay in power. If working with Malaya-based parties for a “greater cause” is wrong, why does GRS do it every single day?

Stability or Fear?

GRS is not stable. GRS is afraid.

Afraid of losing their positions. Afraid that their past corruption cases will be dragged into court. Afraid that their political masters in Putrajaya will withdraw support. This is why they bow down every time Malaya tramples on our constitutional rights, including Sabah’s claim to 40% net revenue under MA63.

GRS Is Not Helping, It’s Destroying Sabah’s Future

GRS has not only failed to help the people of Sabah — they are actively destroying our future. By allowing our rights to be robbed, by letting our resources such as timber, land, minerals, oil, and other natural wealth fall into the hands of cronies, they are crushing Sabah’s hopes for prosperity.

The wealth of Sabah, which should belong to the people, is now flowing into the pockets of a select few political elites. They are not saviours — they are destroyers of our future.

Warisan Contests All 73 Seats — By the People’s Demand

Warisan’s decision to contest all 73 state seats is not a political gimmick — it is a direct demand from Sabahans who are sick of GRS’ puppet rule.

The people want a clear choice: a Sabah government that dares to fight corruption, defend state rights, and return the state’s wealth to the people — not fill the pockets of leaders. Warisan will take on GRS’ corruption, which has siphoned off Sabah’s natural wealth including oil and minerals for personal gain.

PBS — From a Principled Party to a Party in Twilight

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), once a fighter for Sabah’s dignity, is now merely GRS’ tool for clinging to power. They have abandoned their founding principles, betrayed their original vision, and are now just a fading party struggling to stay relevant even as the majority of Sabah voters have abandoned them. PBS is no longer the voice of the people — they are just an empty echo in GRS’ chamber.

GPS Sarawak Fights, GRS Bows

Joniston likes to cite GPS Sarawak as an example. The difference? GPS demands control over oil and gas, sets terms for Putrajaya, and defends the dignity of its people.

GRS? They bow, beg for allocations, and return with empty promises — while giving away state resources like 100-year timber concessions to cronies!

Stability Without Dignity = Humiliation

Stability born out of fear and political surrender is not stability — it is humiliation. Warisan contests all 73 seats because we want a Sabah government that is stable and dignified from day one, without depending on the political strings of outsiders.

Warisan: Consistent & Courageous

From the start, Warisan has been firm: Sabah must be governed by its own people, free from interference by Malaya-based parties — be it UMNO, PKR, or DAP. We do not bow to threats. We do not sell out the people’s rights.

The Choice Is in the People’s Hands

This election is a test of our dignity. Do we remain tied to puppet strings, or do we stand as Sabahans free to determine our own destiny?

GRS can keep deceiving itself with slogans of “cooperation” and “stability”, but Warisan will continue to fight — not for positions, but for Sabah’s rights, dignity, and future.

Reject Malaya Parties! Reject Corrupt Parties! Save Sabah!

L S Lim is a political observer from Sabah.#~Borneo Herald™

GRS Khianati Sipitang/Sabah — Kebankrapan SFI Satu Amaran Kepada Pengundi

Oleh Daniel John Jambun, 10-8-2025

RAKYAT Sipitang mesti mengingati satu fakta yang tidak boleh dinafikan: di bawah pemerintahan GRS, Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) — yang suatu ketika dahulu menjadi sumber pekerjaan, pendapatan dan kebanggaan — telah dibiarkan bankrap.

Akibat daripada kelalaian dan ketidakcekapan mereka, lebih 288,000 ekar tanah — hampir beberapa kali ganda keluasan keseluruhan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur — kini jatuh ke tangan pihak luar.

Jika tanah itu dipulangkan kepada rakyat Sipitang dengan agihan 15 ekar setiap isi rumah, ribuan keluarga boleh memiliki tanah sendiri, membina rumah, bercucuk tanam untuk pendapatan, dan menjamin masa depan anak-anak mereka.

Sebaliknya, GRS hanya berdiam diri sementara syarikat asing dan kroni politik mengambil alih.

Ini bukan sekadar kehilangan tanah — ini adalah kehilangan kebebasan ekonomi untuk beberapa generasi rakyat Sabah, khususnya di Sipitang.

Kini mereka datang lagi meminta undi anda.

Tetapi mengapa Sipitang perlu memberi ganjaran kepada kerajaan yang telah menjual tanah dan rakyatnya?

Warisan komited untuk memulangkan tanah dan sumber negeri kepada rakyat — bukan menyerahkannya kepada pihak luar. Kami akan berjuang memastikan aset Sabah dimanfaatkan untuk rakyat Sabah terlebih dahulu, bukan untuk kroni atau syarikat asing.

Pada hari mengundi nanti, Sipitang mesti menghantar mesej yang jelas:

Tiada lagi pengkhianatan. Tiada lagi penjualan maruah. Tiada lagi GRS.

Daniel John Jambun ialah Presiden

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

SFI : Betrayed Sabahans Warn 1.7 Voters of More GRS Failures

By Daniel John Jambun, 10-8-2025

THE people of Sipitang must remember one undeniable fact: under GRS’ watch, Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) — once a source of jobs, income, and pride — was allowed to go bankrupt.

Because of their negligence and incompetence, over 288,000 acres of land — almost the size of the entire Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur many times over — have now passed into the hands of outsiders.

If that land had been returned to the people of Sipitang at 15 acres per household, thousands of families could have owned land, built homes, farmed for income, and secured a future for their children.

Instead, GRS stood by as foreign and politically connected companies took control.

This is not just a loss of land — it is the loss of economic independence for generations of Sabahans, especially here in Sipitang.

Now they come asking for your votes again.

But why should Sipitang reward the very government that sold out its land and its people?

Warisan stands for returning land and resources to the people — not surrendering them to outside control. We will fight to ensure Sabah’s assets serve Sabahans first, not cronies and foreign companies.

On election day, Sipitang must send a clear message:

No more betrayal. No more sell-out. No more GRS.

Daniel John Jambun is President of

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

Peringatan Anwar “Minta Baik-Baik" satu penghinaan kepada Sabah yang berhak?

Oleh Daniel John Jambun, 7-8-2025

ARAHAN angkuh Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim supaya pemimpin Sabah “minta baik-baik” untuk dana persekutuan bukan sahaja bersikap patronase — malah penghinaan terang-terangan kepada rakyat Sabah dan salah tafsir nyata hubungan perlembagaan antara Sabah dan Persekutuan Malaysia.  

Sila fahami:  

Sabah bukan penerima sedekah. Sabah rakan pengasas Malaysia.  

Kami tidak merayu, mengampu, atau berterima kasih untuk apa yang termaktub sebagai hak kami di sisi undang-undang.  

HAK 40% HASIL BUKAN KEMURAHAN PERSEKUTUAN — TETAPI KEWAJIPAN PERLEMBAGAAN

Perkara 112C dan 112D Perlembagaan Persekutuan tidak bergantung pada emosi, capres politik, atau tafsiran “adab” Perdana Menteri.  

Sabah berhak ke atas 40% hasil bersih yang diperoleh persekutuan dari negeri ini mengikut perlembagaan — hak ini dicabul secara sistematik dan memalukan lebih 40 tahun.  

Jadi, apabila PM Anwar berbangga memberi RM16 bilion dan menuntut kami “bersyukur sedikit,” beliau sama ada:  

1. Buta undang-undang perlembagaan, ATAU  

2. Sengaja bermain permainan tuan-hamba — Putrajaya menghulur sisa dan mengharap Sabah bersujud syukur.  

Zaman itu sudah berakhir. Rakyat Sabah telah sedar.  

MENUNTUT HAK BUKAN KURANG ADAB — TAPI MENAHANNYA ITU BIADAB

Anwar menuduh Ahli Parlimen Sabah biadab kerana mempersoalkan pengumuman Kaamatannya. Tetapi bertanya soalan kritikal bukan biadab — itu tanggungjawab.  

Biadab yang sebenar ialah kegagalan berterusan kerajaan persekutuan mengembalikan hak Sabah.  

RM10.2 bilion dikutip dari Sabah tahun lepas:  

▪ RM7.2 bilion cukai LHDN  

▪ RM1.7 bilion petroleum  

▪ RM700 juta kastam dan eksais  

▪ RM600 juta cukai domestik  

Sabah berhak 40% dari jumlah ini di sisi perlembagaan. Di mana ia?  

Ahli Parlimen Sabah berhak — dan wajib moral — mempersoalkan angka ini. Jika PMX tidak tahan disoal, mungkin beliau tersilap jawatan.  

INI BUKAN REFORMASI — TAPI KESOMBONGAN PENJAJAH BERBAU BARU

Komen “minta baik-baik” Anwar berbau kesombongan Malaya  yang ditanggung Sabah puluhan tahun — anggapan bahawa Sabah wilayah terjajah, bukan rakan setara.  

Jika ini kaedah “Madani,” maka ia sama sahaja dengan penjajahan kuno:  

▪ Kami beri hasil; mereka tentukan syarat.  

▪ Kami tuntut hak; mereka tuduh kami tidak bersyukur.  

▪ Kami soal; mereka memarahi.  

Ini bukan reformasi. Ini imperialisme lama dibungkus kempen PR.  

SABAH TIDAK AKAN DIHAKIMI HINGGA TUNDUK

Ucapan sarcastik dan ugutan tersirat Perdana Menteri tidak layak pemimpin negara. Jika Anwar Ibrahim benar komited memenuhi MA63 dan mempertahankan Perlembagaan, maka:  

1. Penuhi Perkara 112D sepenuhnya,  

2. Jelaskan tunggakan 40% secara telus,  

3. Hentung guna peruntukan persekutuan sebagai alat politik.  

Paling penting: Jangan harap rakyat Sabah merendah diri untuk hak kami.  

Kami tidak perlu “minta baik-baik.” Kami menuntut penuh hormat — tetapi tegas — apa yang dijamin undang-undang. Jika Putrajaya tidak hormat hak perlembagaan Sabah, mungkin sudah tiba masanya Sabah menilai semula penyertaannya dalam persekutuan ini.  

Daniel John Jambun

Presiden  

Pertubuhan Nasib Borneo Dalam Malaysia (BoPiMaFO)#~Borneo Herald™

PM Anwar’s “Ask Nicely” Remark Insults Sabah — Rights Don’t Require Manners, They Require Fulfilment

By Daniel John Jambun, 7-8-2025

PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s arrogant instruction that Sabah leaders must “ask nicely” for federal funds is not only patronising — it is a blatant insult to the people of Sabah and a complete misreading of the constitutional relationship between Sabah and the Federation of Malaysia.

Let us be absolutely clear:

Sabah is not a welfare case. Sabah is a founding partner of Malaysia.

We are not here to beg, flatter, or say thank you for what is already ours by law.

40% Revenue Entitlement Is a Constitutional Right — Not an Act of Federal Generosity

Article 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution are not subject to the Prime Minister’s mood, political whims, or his perception of “manners.”

Sabah is constitutionally entitled to 40% of all net revenue derived from the state by the federal government — and that entitlement has been systematically and shamefully violated for over 40 years.

So when PM Anwar boasts of giving RM16 billion and demands we “appreciate it a bit,” he is either:

Completely out of touch with constitutional law, or

Deliberately playing the master-servant game — where Putrajaya hands out crumbs and expects Sabah to kneel in gratitude.

That era is over. Sabahans are awake.

It Is Not Rude to Demand What Is Owed — It Is Rude to Withhold It

Anwar accused Sabah MPs of being impolite for questioning his Kaamatan announcement. But asking tough questions is not rudeness — it is responsibility.

The real rudeness is the continued failure of the federal government to return what belongs to Sabah.

RM10.2 billion was collected from Sabah last year.

RM7.2 billion came from LHDN taxes, RM1.7 billion from petroleum, RM700 million from customs and excise, and RM600 million from domestic taxes.

Sabah is constitutionally owed 40% of that total. Where is it?

Sabah MPs have every right — and a moral duty — to question these numbers. If PMX can’t handle scrutiny, perhaps he’s in the wrong job.

This Is Not Reform. This Is Colonial Arrogance Rebranded

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Anwar’s “ask nicely” comment reeks of the same old Malayan arrogance Sabahans have endured for decades — the assumption that Sabah is a dependent territory instead of an equal partner.

If this is the “Madani” approach, then it is no different from the colonialism of old:

We provide the revenue; they set the terms.

We demand our rights; they accuse us of being ungrateful.

We question; they scold.

This is not reform. This is regurgitated imperialism with better public relations.

Sabah Will Not Be Lectured Into Submission

The Prime Minister’s veiled threats and sarcastic remarks are unbecoming of a national leader. If Anwar Ibrahim is truly committed to fulfilling MA63 and upholding the Constitution, then:

Honour Article 112D in full,

Settle the 40% arrears transparently,

Stop weaponising federal allocations as political leverage.

And most of all, stop expecting Sabahans to grovel for what is rightfully ours.

We don’t need to “ask nicely.” We are demanding respectfully — but firmly — what the law already grants us. If Putrajaya cannot respect Sabah’s constitutional rights, then perhaps it is time Sabah rethinks this federation altogether.

Daniel John Jambun is President of

Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFO)#~Borneo Herald™

PTPTN & Yayasan Sabah Debt Relief Is Not Financial Ruin — It Is Economic Justice

By Daniel John Jambun, 6-8-2025

GABUNGAN Rakyat Sabah (GRS) propagandists are once again misleading the public — this time by claiming that forgiving education loans like PTPTN and Yayasan Sabah debts would “upset” the state’s finances. This is not only economically dishonest, but morally bankrupt coming from a government that has mismanaged public funds while doing little to improve access to education.

Let’s be clear: investing in the future of Sabahan students is not a burden — it is a duty. Here are the facts they won’t tell you:

1. The State Government Doesn’t Pay PTPTN

PTPTN is a federal agency. The Sabah State Government does not carry the burden of PTPTN’s national loan portfolio. What Warisan proposed is a state-federal collaboration, potentially including:

Interest waivers for B40 borrowers,

Partial settlement schemes,

State co-funding for debt forgiveness of Sabahans who meet specific criteria (e.g., public service, academic excellence, rural hardship).

It is disingenuous for GRS to suggest Sabah’s reserves will be “drained” by a policy not even under state jurisdiction alone.

2. Sabah Has the Fiscal Space — If GRS Weren’t Hoarding or Wasting

GRS boasts about having RM8.6 billion in reserves — yet refuses to use even a fraction of it for human capital development.

To put this in perspective:

Writing off RM200 million in Yayasan Sabah loans (even in full) would represent less than 2.5% of the state's reserves.

That is less than what GRS paid out in compensation to politically-connected contractors in the RM315 million water scandal — a bill the public never agreed to.

GRS would rather pay failed concessionaires and mineral cronies than relieve the financial burden of struggling graduates.

3. Debt Forgiveness Strengthens, Not Weakens, the Economy

Numerous global studies show that targeted education loan forgiveness:

Increases disposable income,

Stimulates local spending,

Encourages entrepreneurship and home ownership,

Improves mental health and productivity.

Forgiving education debt is not a loss — it is a reinvestment that creates multiplier effects. Every ringgit freed from loan repayment is a ringgit spent in the local economy — in Sabah’s rural towns, family businesses, and housing market.

4. Yayasan Sabah Has the Resources — If Properly Managed

Let us not forget: Yayasan Sabah was once the wealthiest state foundation in Malaysia, owning over 1 million hectares of land and massive commercial assets.

The real question is not “can we afford to help our students?” but “where did Yayasan Sabah’s money go?”

Some RM872 million of Yayasan Sabah’s money has reportedly been lost through fraud, pointing to catastrophic financial mismanagement and lack of oversight.

Hundreds of millions in timber concessions were quietly handed out to cronies.

Large plots of Yayasan land were sold off below market value.

Its education funds were gutted to feed political patronage.

To rebuild its financial capacity, the Warisan government must take back all the hundreds thousand hectares of mineral mining concessions given to outsiders and cronies, and place them under Yayasan Sabah’s stewardship. This would ensure that the wealth generated from Sabah’s natural resources is reinvested in education, healthcare, and rural development — not siphoned off by private interests.

Debt forgiveness is affordable and achievable — if the foundation is reclaimed, restructured, and refocused on its original mission.

5. Sarawak Is Already Offering Free Tertiary Education

In Sarawak, the state government has already pledged to make higher education free through Yayasan Sarawak, including:

Full scholarships for local students,

Hostel and living allowance subsidies,

Debt forgiveness for underprivileged students.

If Sarawak can do it with RM41 billion in reserves, why can’t Sabah — with RM8.6 billion — even offer partial relief?

GRS wants to copy Sarawak’s rhetoric but refuses to match Sarawak’s commitment.

6. Warisan Did Not Have Full Term or Full Federal Support

Let us also remember: Warisan governed during a time of federal hostility and pandemic crisis. In just two short years, it:

Expanded scholarships through Yayasan Sabah,

Increased allocations for rural school repairs,

Proposed education reforms to de-politicize allocations.

Had Warisan been given a full 5-year term and federal cooperation, PTPTN relief for Sabahans would have been a reality — not just a recycled campaign promise.

GRS USES "FINANCIAL STABILITY" AS A COVER FOR POLICY COWARDICE

The GRS argument is not about finance — it is about lack of political will, misplaced priorities, and incompetent.

They can afford to:

Sign RM1 billion sukuk bonds,

Pay RM315 million in compensation without court challenge,

Spend RM30 million on publicity stunts and non-transparent grants...

...but not afford to help a young Sabahan who owes RM30,000 in PTPTN debt?

That is not fiscal responsibility. That is moral failure.

Daniel John Jambun is President of

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