Kenyataan Armizan Mengenai Formula 40% Hasil Adalah Mengelirukan — Warisan Letak Asas, GRS Hanya Tuai Hasil

                                 Azmi Salim

Oleh Azmi Salim @ Aweeg, 12-10-2025

GERAKAN Suara Perubahan Sabah (CAMOS) hari ini mengecam Timbalan Setiausaha Agung GRS Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali kerana mengeluarkan kenyataan tidak jujur dan bermotif politik terhadap Parti Warisan berhubung hak tuntutan 40% hasil bersih yang dipungut Persekutuan dari Sabah di bawah Perkara 112C dan 112D Perlembagaan Persekutuan.

CAMOS menyifatkan kenyataan Armizan sebagai satu lagi cubaan terdesak untuk memesongkan sejarah dan mengambil kredit atas usaha yang sebenarnya dimulakan, dikaji dan diperjuangkan oleh pentadbiran Warisan yang diterajui oleh Datuk Shafie Apdal.

1. Warisan Menghidupkan Semula Isu 40% Selepas 50 Tahun Dibekukan

Sebelum tahun 2018, kerajaan-kerajaan Barisan Nasional — termasuk yang disokong oleh Armizan — telah membekukan geran khas Sabah sebanyak RM26.7 juta selama 45 tahun tanpa semakan.

Hanya selepas Warisan membentuk kerajaan negeri pada 2018, isu 40% itu dibuka semula secara rasmi, dibincangkan dan didokumenkan bersama Kerajaan Persekutuan.

Pentadbiran Shafie telah mengaktifkan semula jawatankuasa semakan geran khas dan menuntut pengiraan semula sepenuhnya hasil bersih persekutuan yang dikutip dari Sabah, seperti yang ditetapkan dalam Perkara 112D.

2. RM53.4 Juta Hanya Pelarasan Sementara — Bukan Penyata Akhir

Dakwaan Armizan bahawa Warisan “menerima” RM53.4 juta sebagai bayaran akhir adalah tidak benar sama sekali.

Jumlah itu telah dijelaskan dengan nyata oleh Kementerian Kewangan Persekutuan sebagai bayaran sementara, sementara menunggu semakan penuh formula 40%.

Malah, surat Perbendaharaan Negeri Sabah bertarikh 18 Oktober 2019 menegaskan bahawa penerimaan jumlah sementara itu tidak menjejaskan hak Sabah terhadap tuntutan penuh 40% tersebut.

3. Kerja Undang-Undang dan Teknikal Bermula di Zaman Warisan

Kerajaan Warisan telah menubuhkan pasukan teknikal undang-undang dan fiskal yang mengumpul data, analisis dan hujah yang menjadi asas utama kepada semakan kehakiman yang kini difailkan oleh Sabah Law Society (SLS) terhadap Kerajaan Persekutuan dan Negeri.

Dokumentasi yang kini digunakan oleh kerajaan GRS untuk menunjukkan “kemajuan” itu sebenarnya dihasilkan semasa pentadbiran Warisan.

Ringkasnya, Warisan yang memulakan kerja asas — GRS hanya menumpang hasilnya.

4. GRS Hanya Ambil Kredit atas Peruntukan, Bukan Hak Perlembagaan Sabah

Apa yang dibanggakan Armizan sebagai “RM600 juta” itu sebenarnya bukan hak 40% yang termaktub dalam Perlembagaan.

Ia hanyalah geran tahunan politik yang dianugerahkan secara budi bicara oleh Putrajaya, bukan hasil pengiraan berdasarkan pendapatan bersih persekutuan yang dikutip dari Sabah sebagaimana kehendak Perlembagaan.

Oleh itu, GRS belum mengembalikan hak Sabah — sebaliknya hanya menerima peruntukan politik sementara sambil berpura-pura bahawa ia adalah kemajuan.

5. Keberanian Sebenar Ialah Menegakkan Hak Sabah, Bukan Menunduk kepada Putrajaya

Semasa memerintah, Shafie Apdal berani menuntut hak minyak Sabah, memulakan semakan pelaksanaan MA63, dan menghidupkan semula isu tuntutan 40% hasil bersih — walaupun tidak disenangi kuasa politik di Putrajaya.

Sebaliknya, GRS memilih berdiam diri dan tunduk, mengutamakan keselamatan politik berbanding keadilan perlembagaan.

Hakikatnya Jelas:

Warisan yang memulakan semakan.

Warisan yang membina asas perundangan.

GRS kini hanya membelanjakan hasil yang diperjuangkan orang lain.

Armizan harus berhenti mengelirukan rakyat Sabah dengan separuh kebenaran. Jika beliau benar-benar memperjuangkan hak Sabah, beliau sepatutnya bersama Warisan menuntut pemulangan penuh 40% hasil bersih, bukan berpuas hati dengan geran kecil bersifat politik daripada Kuala Lumpur.

Azmi Salim @ Aweeg ialah Penyelaras

Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS), Bahagian Ranau. Beliau juga bekas Pengarah U PEN Sabah.

The English Version :

KOTA KINABALU : The Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) today slammed GRS deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali for his dishonest and politically motivated attack on Warisan over the 40% revenue entitlement owed to Sabah under Article 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution.

Armizan’s statement is another desperate attempt to distort history and claim credit for efforts that were initiated, researched, and advanced during the Warisan administration led by Datuk Shafie Apdal.

1. Warisan Reopened the 40% Entitlement Issue after 50 Years of Silence

Before 2018, successive Barisan Nasional governments — including those Armizan supported — kept Sabah’s special grant frozen at RM26.7 million for 45 years.

It was only after Warisan formed the state government in 2018 that the 40% issue was officially raised, discussed, and documented with the Federal Government.

Shafie’s administration revived the review committee on the special grant and demanded a full recalculation of federal revenues collected from Sabah as required under Article 112D.

2. The RM53.4 Million Increase Was a Temporary Adjustment — Not the Final Settlement

Armizan’s claim that Warisan “accepted” the RM53.4 million as final is false.

That amount was clearly stated by the Federal Ministry of Finance as an interim payment pending completion of the full 40% formula review.

In fact, the State Treasury letter dated 18 October 2019 explicitly stated that acceptance of the interim amount did not prejudice Sabah’s right to the 40% entitlement.

3. Legal and Technical Work Began Under Warisan

Warisan’s government set up a legal and fiscal technical team that compiled data and arguments forming the foundation of the Sabah Law Society’s judicial review now pending before the courts.

The same documentation — produced during Warisan’s term — is what GRS now uses to claim progress.

In short, Warisan did the groundwork; GRS merely inherited it.

4. GRS is Taking Credit for Federal Allocations, Not Revenue Entitlement

The so-called “RM600 million” that Armizan boasts about is not the 40% entitlement, but merely an annual federal grant decided politically by Putrajaya.

It is not calculated based on net federal revenue collected from Sabah, as the Constitution requires.

Thus, GRS has not reclaimed Sabah’s constitutional right — it has only received discretionary allocations while pretending it is progress.

5. True Courage is Standing Up to Putrajaya, Not Bowing to It

When Warisan governed, Shafie Apdal demanded the return of oil rights, reviewed MA63 implementation, and reopened Sabah’s fiscal entitlement — actions that displeased federal power brokers.

GRS, on the other hand, has chosen silence and submission, preferring political safety over constitutional justice.

The truth is simple:

Warisan initiated the review.

Warisan built the legal foundation.

GRS is now merely spending what others fought to reclaim.

Armizan should stop misleading Sabahans with selective half-truths. If he truly believes in Sabah’s rights, he should join Warisan in demanding full restoration of the 40% revenue entitlement — not settle for token grants from Kuala Lumpur.

Azmi Salim @ Aweeg

Coordinator

Change Advocate Movement Sabah, Ranau Division.

Also Formerly U PEN Director.#~Borneo Herald™

CAMOS Urges Warisan to Also Implement a ‘Momogun Agropreneur Programme'

                          Daniel John Jambun 

By Daniel John Jambun, 12-10-2025

KOTA KINABALU : Following its earlier calls for Parti Warisan to champion Good Governance, the establishment of a Sabah Land Tribunal, and the Reform of the Native Court System, the Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) today adds another key proposal for inclusion in Warisan’s upcoming election manifesto — the launch of a Momogun Agropreneur Programme to revive the rural economy and empower the Momogun (indigenous) communities.

> “The interior districts — from Tambunan to Keningau, Pensiangan to Ranau — have long been sidelined despite being the backbone of Sabah’s agricultural potential. It is time to transform these regions from subsistence economies into dynamic agro-industrial zones led by the native people themselves,” CAMOS said in a statement.

Under this programme, CAMOS proposes that Warisan focus on developing high-value crops and livestock industries such as cocoa, coffee, ginger, fruits, freshwater fish, and cattle — supported by modern training, technological adoption, and financing through cooperatives and micro-grant schemes.

CAMOS also emphasized the importance of rural tourism and community-based homestay enterprises as supplementary income sources for Momogun families.

> “The Momogun heartland is rich in culture, nature, and hospitality — these are valuable economic assets. By promoting homestay and eco-based tourism, rural families can earn sustainable income while preserving their heritage and environment,” it added.

In addition, CAMOS proposed a Rural Infrastructure Acceleration Plan to ensure every interior district benefits from better roads, electricity, and clean water — essential foundations for agricultural, tourism, and small enterprise development.

> “Reviving the rural economy is not merely an economic issue — it is a moral obligation. For too long, the heartland has been the cultural soul of Sabah yet left behind in prosperity. Warisan must change that,” CAMOS stressed.

CAMOS affirmed that the Momogun Agropreneur Programme would complement Warisan’s broader reform agenda — laying the economic foundation for clean governance, land justice, and the recognition of native customs within the justice system.

> “These four reform pillars and another three to be announce in stages — Good Governance, Sabah Land Tribunal, Native Court Reform, and the Momogun Agropreneur Programme — together form a comprehensive framework to build a prosperous, just, and sovereign Sabah,” the statement concluded.

Daniel John Jambun is President of Change Advocate Movement Sabah.

Versi Bahasa Malaysia:

Selepas Tadbir Urus Baik, Tribunal Tanah & Reformasi Mahkamah Anak Negeri — CAMOS Kini Desak Warisan Laksana ‘Program Agropreneur Momogun

Kota Kinabalu — Selepas menggesa Parti Warisan untuk memperjuangkan tadbir urus baik, penubuhan Tribunal Tanah Sabah, dan reformasi Mahkamah Anak Negeri, Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) hari ini mengemukakan satu lagi cadangan utama untuk dimasukkan dalam manifesto Warisan — pelancaran Program Agropreneur Momogun bagi memulihkan ekonomi luar bandar dan memperkasa komuniti Momogun (pribumi).

> “Daerah-daerah pedalaman — dari Tambunan ke Keningau, Pensiangan hingga Ranau — telah lama terpinggir walaupun menjadi tulang belakang kepada potensi pertanian Sabah. Sudah tiba masanya kawasan ini diubah daripada ekonomi sara diri kepada zon agroindustri yang dinamik dan diterajui oleh rakyat pribumi sendiri,” kata CAMOS dalam kenyataan itu.

Di bawah program ini, CAMOS mencadangkan agar Warisan menumpukan kepada tanaman bernilai tinggi dan industri ternakan seperti koko, kopi, halia, buah-buahan, ikan air tawar, dan lembu — disokong oleh latihan moden, penggunaan teknologi, serta pembiayaan melalui koperasi dan skim geran mikro.

CAMOS turut menekankan pentingnya pelancongan luar bandar dan perusahaan inap desa (homestay) berasaskan komuniti sebagai sumber ekonomi tambahan bagi keluarga Momogun.

> “Tanah besar Momogun kaya dengan budaya, alam semula jadi, dan keramahan — ini aset ekonomi yang berharga. Dengan mempromosikan pelancongan homestay dan ekopelancongan komuniti, keluarga luar bandar boleh menjana pendapatan sambil memelihara warisan dan kelestarian alam,” tambah kenyataan itu.

Selain itu, CAMOS juga mencadangkan satu Pelan Pemecut Infrastruktur Luar Bandar, bagi memastikan setiap daerah pedalaman menikmati jalan raya, elektrik, dan air bersih yang lebih baik — prasyarat penting untuk pembangunan pertanian, pelancongan dan perusahaan kecil.

> “Pemulihan ekonomi luar bandar bukan sekadar isu ekonomi — ia tanggungjawab moral. Sudah terlalu lama kawasan pedalaman menjadi nadi budaya Sabah tetapi diketepikan daripada arus kemakmuran. Warisan mesti mengubah keadaan ini,” tegas CAMOS.

CAMOS menegaskan bahawa Program Agropreneur Momogun akan menjadi pelengkap kepada reformasi Warisan yang lain — membina asas ekonomi yang kukuh bagi pelaksanaan tadbir urus bersih, keadilan tanah, dan pengiktirafan adat dalam sistem keadilan.

> “Empat teras reformasi ini dan ada tiga lagi akan di- umum secara berperingkat— Tadbir Urus Baik, Tribunal Tanah Sabah, Reformasi Mahkamah Anak Negeri, dan Program Agropreneur Momogun — akan membentuk rangka kerja menyeluruh bagi membina Sabah yang makmur, adil dan berdaulat,” ujar kenyataan itu. 

Daniel John Jambun

Presiden

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

Belanjawan 2026: Rakyat sangsi ia akan menyelesaikan masalah pembangunan luar bandar Sabah

                              Saibin Gunsari

Oleh Saibin Gunsari, 11/10/2025

BELANJAWAN negara 2026 telah dibentangkan oleh Perdana Menteri pada hari Jumaat (10-10-2025) dengan belanjawan mengurus sebanyak RM338.2 billion, belanjawan pembangunan sebanyak RM81 bilion, pelaburan awam-swasta sebanyak RM10 billion dan belanjawan pelaburan badan berkanun persekutuan (MKD) sebanyak RM10.8 bilion. 

Sabah dan Sarawak menerima peruntukan tertinggi dalam Belanjawan 2026 tersebut.

Namun, adakah agihan belanjawan itu akan menyelasaikan ketidakseimbangan pembangunan antara wilayah dan  isu keadilan sosial?

Kawasan Kiulu memerlukan perkara-perkara berikut jika inginkan kemajuan :

1. Bekalan elektrik yang stabil

2. Bekalan air bersih terawat

3. Pembinaan dan penyelanggaraan jalan raya dan jalan pertanian 

4. Pembinaan sekolah menengah (Kiulu satu-satunya daerah di Tuaran yang hanya mempunyai sebuah sekolah menengah dengan keluasan yang begitu besar dan mencabar)

5. Mengatasi pengangguran belia 

6. Pembinaan dan penyelanggaraan infrastruktur

7. Keperluan golongan rentan 

8. Pemilikan geran tanah

9. Pembinaan dan pengurusan pusat pengumpulan, pengredan, pemprosesan dan pemasaran hasil pertanian penduduk.

10. Pembinaan pusat latihan kemahiran belia dan wanita.

Ini semua memerlukan peruntukan belanjawan pembangunan dan belanjawan mengurus. Namun begitu, berdasarkan keperluan di atas, sepatutnya peruntukan belanjawan luar bandar lebih memerlukan belanjawan pembangunan berbanding dengan belanjawan mengurus. 

Peruntukan untuk belanjawan pelaburan GLC, awam dan swasta serta MKD juga perlu mengambilkira kawasan atau lokaliti selain daripada aspek peluang pekerjaan dan pendapatan negara hasil pelaburan tersebut. 

Penghijrahan belia Sabah dan Sarawak ke Semenanjung Malaysia dan dari luar bandar ke bandar perlu dilihat sebagai masalah ketidakseimbangan ekonomi antara wilayah serta ketidakadilan sosial.

Dengan kata lain, belanjawan 2026 perlu mengkaji semula keperluan perbelanjaan pembangunan terutama di kawasan luar bandar Sabah dan Sarawak. Pelaburan daripada belanjawan tersebut juga perlu mengambilkira pelaburan ke Sabah dan Sarawak termasuk di kawasan luar bandar.

Rakyat Kiulu perlu tahu, perlu sedar.

Saibin Gunsari ialah seorang bekas pengetua sekolah menengah, dan kini Penyelaras Parti Warisan bagi DUN Kiulu di Tuaran.#~Borneo Herald™

GRS’s So-Called ‘Journey of Hope’ Is Empty Rhetoric — SFI, Pitas Prawn Farm and Abandoned Projects Are Proof of Failure and Betrayal of the Sabah People

   Angie Chin, CAMOS coordinator for Penampang.

GRS Builds Rhetoric, the People Remain Poor

KOTA KINABALU, 11/10/2025 : The Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) today slammed Datuk James Ligunjang’s attempt to portray the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) administration as a “journey of hope, progress and prosperity,” calling it a hollow propaganda piece aimed at concealing economic failures, unfulfilled promises, and growing public discontent.

“Ligunjang speaks as if Sabah has entered a new era under GRS. In reality, Sabah’s economy is slowing, rural poverty is worsening, and most government-linked projects have failed, stalled, or gone bankrupt,” said Angie Chin, CAMOS Coordinator for Penampang.

She pointed out that the most glaring failure is the collapse of Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) in Sipitang — once a cornerstone of Sabah’s industrial economy, now destroyed under GRS’s watch, causing thousands to lose their jobs and depriving the state of potential revenue worth hundreds of millions of ringgit.

“The SFI debacle exposes the true incompetence of GRS. Instead of reviving one of Sabah’s largest industrial assets, they allowed it to decay. Promises to resolve the issue were made repeatedly, but nothing was ever delivered,” Angie stressed.

She further noted that hundreds of thousands of acres of SFI land, if redistributed — even 15 acres per indigenous family — could have benefited thousands of local households.

“Instead, the land has passed into the hands of third parties. The chance to return land rights to the indigenous people was allowed to slip away — a major betrayal of the people of Sabah,” she said.

Angie also highlighted the collapse of the Pitas Prawn Farm project, which was touted as a key rural income generator but ended up bankrupt and abandoned.

“This project was used as GRS’s political showcase, but it turned into a symbol of failure. Millions were spent, yet the people of Pitas gained nothing. It only deepened frustration and anger among rural Sabahans,” she added.

She went on to list other failed or incomplete projects — including the sluggish Pan Borneo Highway, delayed water and electricity projects in Tongod, Nabawan, and Beluran, and GRS’s failure to attract new industrial investments despite receiving billions in federal allocations.

“GRS keeps boasting about impressive revenue figures as if they reflect economic progress. But in reality, people are still facing blackouts, poor roads, rising living costs, and unstable jobs. This is not prosperity — it’s suffering,” she said.

Angie also rejected GRS’s claim that the increase in state revenue from RM4 billion to RM10 billion represents policy success.

“That’s just a statistical illusion. The increase comes not from smart policies but from external factors like global commodity prices and federal transfers. If GRS is truly performing, where is the benefit for the people?” Angie asked.

She further condemned GRS’s failure to fight for Sabah’s 40% constitutional revenue entitlement under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution, as well as their failure to reform the Native Court system and resolve rural land disputes.

“This is not a government of hope — it’s a government of hypocrisy. They’ve failed on every front: industrial revival, rural empowerment, good governance, and the defense of Sabah’s rights,” Angie declared.

She emphasised that Sabah needs leaders with courage and vision, not administrators skilled only in repeating promises and hiding their failures.

“After five years, what has GRS really achieved? Failed projects, broken promises, and widening inequality. The people of Sabah deserve honest leadership — not another fairytale about progress that never reaches them,” she concluded.

Angie Chin is the Coordinator of

Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) for 

Penampang

Versi Bahasa Malaysia:

Perjalanan Harapan GRS Hanya Retorik — SFI, Ladang Udang Pitas dan Projek Terbengkalai Bukti Kegagalan dan Pengkhianatan Terhadap Rakyat Sabah

GRS Bina Retorik, Rakyat Terus Miskin

Kota Kinabalu — Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) hari ini mengecam kenyataan Datuk James Ligunjang yang cuba menggambarkan pentadbiran Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) sebagai “perjalanan harapan, kemajuan dan kemakmuran,” sambil menyifatkannya sebagai propaganda kosong untuk menutup kegagalan ekonomi, janji yang tidak ditepati dan kekecewaan rakyat yang semakin mendalam.

“Ligunjang bercakap seolah-olah Sabah berada dalam era baharu di bawah GRS. Hakikatnya, ekonomi Sabah semakin perlahan, kemiskinan luar bandar semakin parah, dan majoriti projek berkaitan kerajaan gagal, terbengkalai atau muflis,” kata Angie Chin, Penyelaras CAMOS Penampang.

Beliau menegaskan bahawa kegagalan paling besar ialah Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) di Sipitang — tonggak industri yang kini musnah di bawah pemerintahan GRS, mengakibatkan ribuan kehilangan kerja dan Sabah kehilangan potensi hasil bernilai ratusan juta ringgit.

“Isu SFI membongkar kepincangan sebenar GRS. Daripada menghidupkan semula aset industri terbesar Sabah, mereka membiarkannya reput. Janji untuk menyelesaikan isu ini berulang kali dibuat, namun tiada apa-apa hasil,” tegas Angie.

Beliau turut menambah bahawa ratusan ribu ekar tanah SFI, jika diagihkan semula sekurang-kurangnya 15 ekar setiap keluarga pribumi, boleh memberi manfaat besar kepada ribuan keluarga tempatan.

“Namun, tanah ini kini berpindah tangan kepada pihak ketiga. Peluang untuk mengembalikan hak tanah kepada anak negeri dibiarkan hilang — satu pengkhianatan besar terhadap rakyat Sabah,” katanya.

Angie juga menyorot kegagalan projek Ladang Udang Pitas yang kononnya mahu menjana pendapatan luar bandar, tetapi akhirnya muflis dan terbengkalai.

“Projek ini dijadikan modal politik oleh GRS, tetapi akhirnya menjadi simbol kegagalan mereka. Jutaan ringgit dibelanjakan, tetapi rakyat Pitas tidak mendapat apa-apa. Ia hanya menambah kekecewaan dan kemarahan rakyat luar bandar,” tambahnya.

Selain itu, beliau turut menyenaraikan pelbagai projek lain yang gagal atau tidak siap — termasuk Pan Borneo Highway yang perlahan, projek air dan elektrik di Tongod, Nabawan dan Beluran yang tertangguh, serta kegagalan menarik pelaburan industri baharu walaupun Sabah menerima berbilion ringgit peruntukan daripada kerajaan pusat.

“GRS terus berbangga dengan angka besar kononnya menunjukkan kemajuan ekonomi. Tetapi realitinya, rakyat masih berdepan gangguan bekalan elektrik, jalan rosak, harga barang meningkat dan tiada pekerjaan stabil. Ini bukan kemakmuran, ini penderitaan,” katanya lagi.

Angie turut menolak dakwaan peningkatan hasil negeri daripada RM4 bilion kepada RM10 bilion sebagai kejayaan dasar GRS.

“Itu hanyalah ilusi statistik. Kenaikan hasil bukan datang daripada dasar yang bijak, tetapi faktor luar seperti harga komoditi dan bantuan persekutuan. Kalau benar GRS hebat, di mana hasilnya kepada rakyat?” soal Angie.

Beliau juga mengecam kegagalan GRS memperjuangkan hak 40% hasil bersih Sabah di bawah Perkara 112C dan 112D Perlembagaan Persekutuan, serta kegagalan mereka dalam reformasi Mahkamah Anak Negeri dan menyelesaikan pertikaian tanah luar bandar.

“Ini bukan kerajaan harapan — ini kerajaan kepura-puraan. Mereka gagal dalam semua aspek: kebangkitan industri, pemberdayaan luar bandar, tadbir urus baik dan perjuangan hak negeri,” kata Angie.

Beliau menegaskan bahawa Sabah memerlukan kepimpinan yang berani dan berwawasan, bukan pentadbir yang hanya pandai menjual janji dan menyembunyikan kegagalan.

“Selepas lima tahun, apa yang benar-benar dicapai oleh GRS? Projek gagal, janji dimungkiri, dan jurang kekayaan semakin melebar. Rakyat Sabah berhak mendapat kepimpinan yang tulus, bukan dongeng kemajuan yang tidak pernah sampai kepada mereka,” tegasnya.

Angie Chin

Penyelaras

Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS)

Penampang#~Borneo Herald™

Sabahans Tired of Too Many Political Slogans, Says NGO

               Anna Martin, second from right.

KOTA KINABALU, 11/10/2025 : Camos, an NGO for reform, today questions the sincerity behind Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah’s (Gagasan Rakyat) latest call to uphold the so-called #SabahTanahAirku spirit, saying that slogans alone mean nothing when the GRS government continues to fail in defending Sabah’s rights and improving people’s lives.

Camos coordinator for Kimanis, Anna Martin, in a statement said that the GRS administration under Datuk Hajiji Noor has mastered the art of packaging political slogans — from #KitaJagaSabah to #SabahTanahAirku — while poverty remains high, development inequality persists, and young Sabahans continue leaving the state in search of opportunities elsewhere.

She was commenting on PGRS information chief, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan's statement calling on Sabahans to uphold the spirit of the ruling party's slogans especially the #SabahTanahAirku.

“True love for Sabah (#SabahTanahAirku) must be shown through action — not hashtags," stressed Anna who was one of the original four founders of Camos.

"If GRS genuinely cares about Sabah, they should start by demanding the full 40% revenue entitlement under Articles 112C and 112D of the Federal Constitution, fixing the crumbling education and health infrastructure, and ensuring fair job opportunities for locals,” she said.

She added that Sabahans have seen enough of political theatrics designed to mask a government that prioritises political deals over people’s welfare.

“What Sabah needs is leadership with integrity, competence, and courage — not empty slogans recycled before every election.

"We Sabahans believe that Sabah’s future can only be safeguarded by putting people first, not by defending the privileges of those in power," Anna added.#~Borneo Herald™

Belanjawan 2026: RM6.9 Bilion Untuk Sabah Bukan Sumbangan, Ia Hak Di Bawah MA63

KOTA KINABALU, 11 Oktober 2025 — Change Advocate Movement Sabah(CAMOS) hari ini menyambut baik pengumuman Perdana Menteri Datuk Anwar Ibrahim mengenai peruntukan RM6.9 bilion kepada Sabah di bawah Belanjawan Persekutuan 2026, namun menegaskan bahawa jumlah ini tidak seharusnya dilihat sebagai hadiah atau ihsan, sebaliknya merupakan hak mutlak Sabah di bawah Perjanjian Malaysia 1963 (MA63).

“Kami menghargai pengiktirafan terhadap keperluan pembangunan Sabah, namun rakyat tidak boleh terpedaya dengan angka besar tanpa memahami realitinya. Ini bukan hadiah daripada Putrajaya — ia hanyalah sebahagian kecil daripada jumlah sebenar yang sepatutnya diterima oleh Sabah di bawah tanggungjawab kewangan Persekutuan,” kata BoPiMaFo dalam satu kenyataan.

CAMOS menjelaskan bahawa walaupun angka RM6.9 bilion kelihatan besar, isu sebenar adalah pelaksanaan dan ketelusan. Banyak projek pembangunan di bawah kerajaan GRS sebelum ini didapati lewat, mengalami ketirisan dan kekurangan pemantauan awam yang berkesan.

“Setiap sen mesti diurus dengan telus. Kami menuntut laporan kemajuan suku tahunan yang memperincikan projek mana telah disiapkan, siapa kontraktornya, dan berapa kos sebenar. Rakyat Sabah hanya akan percaya kepada peruntukan RM6.9 bilion ini sekiranya jumlah penuh disalurkan ke perbendaharaan negeri selewat-lewatnya Januari 2026. Sabah tidak boleh lagi dijadikan ‘kolam dana’ untuk kroni politik,” tambah kenyataan itu.

CAMOS turut menegaskan bahawa peruntukan ini tidak boleh dijadikan alasan untuk melengah-lengahkan tuntutan perlembagaan Sabah terhadap 40% hasil bersih Persekutuan yang kini sedang diperjuangkan di bawah MA63.

“Kita tidak boleh mengelirukan antara bantuan pembangunan dengan hak hasil negeri. Kedua-duanya berbeza sama sekali. RM6.9 bilion ini datang daripada belanjawan tahunan — tetapi hak 40% hasil Persekutuan adalah hak perlembagaan yang masih belum ditunaikan,” tegasnya.

Menurut CAMOS, retorik berterusan kerajaan GRS tentang “mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan Kerajaan Persekutuan” semakin tidak bermakna, kerana rakyat biasa di Sabah masih belum melihat peningkatan nyata di peringkat akar umbi.

“Selepas empat tahun di bawah pemerintahan GRS, kemiskinan luar bandar kekal tinggi, jalan raya masih rosak, dan masalah bekalan air terus berlarutan. Rakyat berhak bertanya — ke mana perginya semua wang ini?” soal CAMOS.

Pertubuhan itu menegaskan bahawa apa yang benar-benar diperlukan oleh Sabah bukan sekadar peruntukan besar daripada Kuala Lumpur, tetapi kuasa untuk mengurus kewangannya sendiri, autonomi penuh dalam pelaksanaan projek, serta penubuhan badan pemantau bebas bagi mengelakkan ketirisan dan penyalahgunaan kuasa.

“Sabah mesti dilayan sebagai rakan setara kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan — bukan sekadar penerima dana. Inilah semangat sebenar MA63 yang mesti diterjemahkan dalam dasar dan tindakan, bukan sekadar ucapan,” tegas CAMOS.

Dikeluarkan oleh:

Daniel John Jambun

Presiden

Change Advocate Movement(CAMOS)

CAMOS Urges Warisan to Include Native Court Reform in Manifesto

                         Daniel John Jambun

10-10-2025

KOTA KINABALU : The Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) today calls on Parti Warisan to include in its forthcoming election manifesto a firm commitment to reform the Native Court system and elevate its standing to be at par with the Syariah Court in terms of authority, structure, and resource allocation.

CAMOS president, Daniel John Jambun, in a statement said that the current Native Court system, which primarily handles matters of native customs and traditions affecting the Momogun and other indigenous communities, has long been treated as an inferior component of the justice system.

He pointed out the absence of proper funding, trained judicial officers, and institutional independence has undermined its ability to protect native rights effectively.

“For decades, native justice in Sabah has been marginalized. While the Syariah Court has evolved into a well-funded and respected judicial institution, the Native Court remains administratively weak, poorly staffed, and often subject to political control. 

"This imbalance sends the wrong message — that native laws and customs are secondary in their own land,” he said.

Daniel stressed that reforming the Native Court is not merely a legal or administrative matter but a moral obligation to uphold the dignity of Sabah’s indigenous peoples. 

"Former Chief Justice of Malaysia, Tun Richard Malanjum had also raised similar concerns, emphasizing that native chiefs and judges should be properly trained and appointed based on merit rather than political connection.

“As Tun Richard rightly pointed out, the post of native court judge or native chief must not be treated as a political reward for the ‘unemployable’, but entrusted to trained and qualified individuals who understand native law and custom," he added.

Daniel also said politicians should not interfere in these appointments — native justice must stand on professionalism, not patronage.

He also proposed that the reformed Native Court be institutionally linked with the Borneo Institute for Indigenous Studies (BORIIS) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to provide continuous education, training, and documentation of native laws and customs.

"This collaboration would help modernise the Native Court and professionalise its personnel, in line with global best practices.

"The Native Affairs Department be revamped, strengthened, and placed directly under the Chief Minister’s Office through the creation of an additional portfolio titled “Native Affairs and Syariah Law Ministry,” he said.

He said the ministry should be headed by an experienced, legally qualified, and passionate leader who is deeply knowledgeable about local customs and traditions.

“The Native Affairs Department must no longer be treated as a symbolic administrative unit. It must be elevated, empowered, and led by someone with both legal grounding and cultural understanding — someone who can truly bridge the gap between adat and modern governance,” he said.

He also highlighted that elevating the Native Court and reforming the Native Affairs Department would bring Sabah closer to compliance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which Malaysia has endorsed.

“Reforming and empowering the Native Court is not only a constitutional necessity under MA63 but also an international obligation to uphold indigenous rights and justice,” he stated.

He also echoed Malanjum’s view that since most affected indigenous communities are non-Muslims, native affairs should be led by qualified non-Muslim professionals who are well-versed in native traditions and issues.

“This is about cultural understanding and proper representation — it is not about religion, but about ensuring justice is delivered by those who live and understand the adat of the people they serve,” he said.

He said historically both the colonial administration and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 recognised the distinct institutional roles of Muslim and non-Muslim natives in Sabah’s governance structure. 

Strengthening the Native Court today would therefore restore that historical balance and reaffirm Sabah’s multicultural and multi-faith identity, he said.

Granting the Native Court equal institutional status with the Syariah Court would:

Strengthen recognition of native customary law (adat) as part of Sabah’s legal heritage;

Enable fairer and faster resolution of land, family, and community disputes;

Restore public confidence in the state’s justice system among Momogun communities; and

Uphold the spirit of autonomy and respect for native institutions under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“Warisan has already shown commitment to good governance and native land protection through the proposed Land Tribunal. The next step is to institutionalize justice — by reforming the Native Court into a modern, independent, and professional body, just like the Syariah Court,” he added.

Daniel believes the reform will not only resonate strongly with Momogun voters across the interior, but also reflect Warisan’s broader vision of a just, inclusive, and united Sabah — where every community’s heritage and rights are respected equally.

Daniel John Jambun is President of

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

CAMOS Urges Warisan to Champion Good Governance — Transparency, Accountability, and Zero Tolerance for Corruption

Daniel John Jambun, currently president of reform-enabler CAMOS.

By Daniel John Jambun, 8-10-2025

THE Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) today welcomes the strong response from Sabahans to its earlier call for a Sabah Land Tribunal, and now further urges Parti Warisan to make good governance and clean administration the foundation of its election manifesto.

For decades, Sabah has suffered from corruption, abuse of power, and maladministration. Public funds meant for schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and rural development have too often been lost to leakages and crony politics. Sabahans are clear: the state cannot afford another cycle of mismanagement and betrayal.

CAMOS therefore calls on Warisan to commit to four sacred principles of governance:

Transparency — All government contracts, tenders, and expenditures must be publicly disclosed.

Accountability — Leaders and civil servants must answer directly to the rakyat, with clear consequences for failure and misconduct.

Fairness & Justice — Every Sabahan must have equal access to opportunities without discrimination or political bias.

Zero Corruption — A government that serves the rakyat, not personal or party interests.

To make these principles real and lasting, Warisan must pledge bold reforms that go beyond rhetoric:

Stationing MACC officers within the Chief Minister’s Office and all strategic ministries and departments as independent watchdogs.

Establishing the Sabah Ombudsman Office immediately within the first 100 days of forming government. This Ombudsman must have full independence, with powers to investigate complaints of maladministration, abuse of power, unfair treatment, or bureaucratic negligence, and must report directly to the State Legislative Assembly, not the Chief Minister.

Strengthening the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with full autonomy to probe government spending and summon leaders for accountability.

Mandatory asset declaration by all Cabinet members and top civil servants, updated annually and made public.

Implementing a transparent, merit-based tender system that ends favoritism and ensures fairness.

The Sabah Ombudsman, to be established within the first 100 days, will send a clear and immediate signal to the rakyat and the world that Sabah under Warisan will tolerate no corruption, no abuse of power, and no injustice. It will provide Sabahans with a direct and independent channel to seek justice, ensuring that government serves the people with integrity from Day One.

CAMOS stresses that Sabah deserves nothing less than a government that is clean, transparent, and accountable to the people. Warisan must therefore commit to institutionalising reforms that outlast individual leaders, embedding integrity and justice as the permanent DNA of Sabah’s governance.

This is the recipe for Sabah to finally close the gap and trail Sarawak’s impressive economic performance — not through slogans, but through honest governance, transparency, and discipline in leadership.

The voice of the people is clear:

Enough of corruption.

Enough of excuses.

Enough of failed governance.

Sabah’s future depends on bold reforms, and Warisan must answer that call — beginning with the Sabah Ombudsman within 100 days of taking office.

Daniel John Jambun is President of

Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS)

Versi Bahasa Malaysia:

CAMOS Mendesak Warisan Memperkasa Tadbir Urus Baik — Ketelusan, Kebertanggungjawaban dan Sifar Toleransi terhadap Rasuah

KOTA KINABALU : Change Advocate Movement Sabah (CAMOS) hari ini menyambut baik sambutan positif rakyat Sabah terhadap gesaannya sebelum ini agar sebuah Tribunal Tanah Sabah diwujudkan, dan kini menyeru Parti Warisan untuk menjadikan tadbir urus baik dan pentadbiran bersih sebagai teras utama manifesto pilihan raya.

Selama berdekad-dekad, Sabah telah menderita akibat rasuah, penyalahgunaan kuasa, dan kelemahan tadbir urus. Dana awam yang sepatutnya disalurkan untuk sekolah, hospital, infrastruktur dan pembangunan luar bandar sering kali bocor akibat politik kroni dan salah urus. Rakyat Sabah sudah jelas — negeri ini tidak mampu lagi menanggung satu lagi kitaran pengkhianatan dan ketirisan.

Oleh itu, CAMOS menyeru agar Warisan beriltizam kepada empat prinsip suci tadbir urus:

1. Ketelusan (Transparency) — Semua kontrak, tender dan perbelanjaan kerajaan mesti didedahkan kepada umum.

2.Kebertanggungjawaban (Accountability) — Pemimpin dan penjawat awam mesti menjawab terus kepada rakyat, dengan tindakan tegas terhadap kegagalan atau salah laku.

3. Keadilan & Kesaksamaan (Fairness & Justice) — Setiap rakyat Sabah mesti mendapat akses yang sama kepada peluang tanpa diskriminasi atau pilih kasih politik.

4. Sifar Rasuah (Zero Corruption) — Sebuah kerajaan yang berkhidmat untuk rakyat, bukan demi kepentingan peribadi atau parti.

Bagi memastikan prinsip-prinsip ini benar-benar terlaksana dan berkekalan, Warisan mesti berjanji untuk melaksanakan reformasi berani yang melangkaui retorik, termasuk:

Menempatkan pegawai SPRM di Pejabat Ketua Menteri serta semua kementerian dan jabatan strategik sebagai pemantau bebas.

Menubuhkan Pejabat Ombudsman Sabah dalam tempoh 100 hari pertama selepas membentuk kerajaan. Ombudsman ini mesti benar-benar bebas, dengan kuasa menyiasat aduan mengenai salah tadbir, penyalahgunaan kuasa, layanan tidak adil atau kecuaian birokrasi, dan melapor terus kepada Dewan Undangan Negeri, bukan Ketua Menteri.

Memperkukuh Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Awam (PAC) dengan autonomi penuh untuk menyiasat perbelanjaan kerajaan dan memanggil pemimpin bagi tujuan kebertanggungjawaban.

Perisytiharan harta wajib oleh semua anggota Kabinet dan pegawai kanan kerajaan, dikemaskini setiap tahun dan disiarkan kepada umum.

Melaksanakan sistem tender berasaskan merit yang telus, bagi menamatkan amalan pilih kasih serta memastikan keadilan.

Penubuhan Ombudsman Sabah dalam tempoh 100 hari pertama akan menjadi isyarat jelas kepada rakyat dan dunia bahawa Sabah di bawah Warisan tidak akan bertolak ansur dengan rasuah, penyalahgunaan kuasa atau ketidakadilan. Ia akan menyediakan saluran terus dan bebas bagi rakyat Sabah menuntut keadilan, memastikan kerajaan berkhidmat dengan integriti sejak Hari Pertama.

CAMOS menegaskan bahawa Sabah berhak mendapat sebuah kerajaan yang bersih, telus dan bertanggungjawab kepada rakyat. Oleh itu, Warisan mesti berkomitmen untuk meminstitusikan reformasi yang berkekalan melangkaui individu pemimpin, dengan menanam nilai integriti dan keadilan sebagai DNA kekal dalam tadbir urus Sabah.

Inilah resipi sebenar untuk Sabah menyaingi kemajuan ekonomi Sarawak — bukan melalui slogan, tetapi melalui tadbir urus jujur, ketelusan dan disiplin kepimpinan.

Suara rakyat kini jelas:

Cukup dengan rasuah.

Cukup dengan alasan.

Cukup dengan kegagalan tadbir urus.

Masa depan Sabah bergantung kepada reformasi berani — dan Warisan mesti menyahut seruan itu, bermula dengan penubuhan Ombudsman Sabah dalam tempoh 100 hari selepas mengambil alih kerajaan.

Daniel John Jambun ialah Presiden

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

Dr Jeffrey’s Call for Unity Is His Last Political Lifeline — Warisan Must Not Be Trapped

                S L Lim                            Dr Jeffrey

By S L Lim, 8-10-2025

KOTA KINABALU : Sabah political observer S L Lim has described the latest call by Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for local parties — including Warisan and other opposition groups — to unite in the name of “the rights and dignity of the people of Sabah” as nothing more than a desperate attempt to salvage his collapsing political career.

This appeal comes at a time when Dr Jeffrey’s political standing is at its weakest, following years of public disappointment over his failure to deliver real reforms while serving as Deputy Chief Minister under the GRS government. For nearly five years, he was part of an administration marred by corruption, betrayal of MA63 rights, and erosion of Sabah’s administrative integrity.

Now, as the political tide turns against GRS, Dr Jeffrey is trying to reinvent himself as a unifier of local parties under the banner of “Sabah for Sabahans.” But Sabahans are not easily deceived — history has shown that he himself betrayed that very slogan in 2018.

As Sabah UMNO Chief Datuk Bung Moktar Radin reminded, if Dr Jeffrey had truly believed in “Sabah for Sabahans,” he should have supported the local party Warisan after the 2018 state election, when both Warisan and BN each won 29 seats. Instead, Dr Jeffrey chose to align with the Malaya-based Barisan Nasional (BN), rejecting a local party and denying Sabahans the opportunity to form their own state government.

Bung Moktar stated:

“If he really believed in ‘Sabah for Sabahans’, Dr Jeffrey should have chosen Warisan and rejected the Malayan party BN. But he chose BN — and only now he talks about fighting for Sabahans.”

Dr Jeffrey’s credibility crisis is not only reflected in the people’s loss of trust — even five of his own STAR assemblymen have deserted him and joined GRS, abandoning a party they no longer believe in. This mass defection exposes the deep cracks in his leadership and the absence of confidence among those who once stood with him.

This pattern of opportunism and self-preservation has defined Dr Jeffrey’s political journey. His newfound call for “unity” is not driven by principle, but by political desperation — a last attempt to remain relevant as his influence and allies disappear.

As the most consistent and principled local opposition, Warisan must not fall into this trap. Working with those who contributed to Sabah’s decline would only confuse voters and weaken Warisan’s moral authority as a reform-driven movement.

True unity cannot be built on convenience or fear of losing power. It must rest on principle, integrity, and accountability — values long abandoned by leaders who now pretend to champion them.

The people of Sabah deserve a clean, credible alternative, not recycled alliances born out of desperation and political survival.

S L Lim

Political Observer, Sabah

Versi Bahasa Malaysia:

Seruan Dr Jeffrey untuk Perpaduan Adalah Talian Hayat Politik Terakhir — Warisan Jangan Terperangkap

Kota Kinabalu — Pemerhati politik Sabah, S. L. Lim, menyifatkan seruan terbaru oleh Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan agar parti-parti tempatan — termasuk Warisan dan pembangkang lain — bersatu atas nama “hak dan maruah rakyat Sabah” sebagai tindakan terdesak untuk menyelamatkan karier politiknya yang semakin runtuh.

Seruan ini muncul pada saat pengaruh politik Dr Jeffrey berada di tahap paling lemah, selepas bertahun-tahun rakyat kecewa terhadap kegagalannya membawa pembaharuan sebenar ketika berkhidmat sebagai Timbalan Ketua Menteri dalam kerajaan GRS. Selama hampir lima tahun, beliau menjadi sebahagian daripada pentadbiran yang dicemari oleh rasuah, pengkhianatan terhadap hak MA63, serta kemerosotan integriti pentadbiran negeri.

Kini apabila arus politik berpaling menentang GRS, Dr Jeffrey cuba menampilkan dirinya sebagai penyatu parti-parti tempatan atas slogan “Sabah for Sabahans.” Namun rakyat Sabah tidak mudah tertipu — sejarah membuktikan bahawa beliau sendiri mengkhianati slogan tersebut pada tahun 2018.

Seperti yang diingatkan oleh Ketua UMNO Sabah, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, sekiranya Dr Jeffrey benar-benar berpegang pada prinsip “Sabah for Sabahans,” beliau sepatutnya menyokong parti tempatan Warisan selepas Pilihan Raya Negeri 2018, ketika Warisan dan BN masing-masing memperoleh 29 kerusi. Sebaliknya, Dr Jeffrey memilih untuk berpihak kepada parti Malaya, Barisan Nasional (BN), menolak parti tempatan dan menafikan peluang rakyat Sabah membentuk kerajaan mereka sendiri.

Kata Bung Moktar:

> “Kalau betul ‘Sabah for Sabahans’, Dr Jeffrey sepatutnya pilih Warisan dan tolak parti Malaya BN. Tapi dia pilih BN — dan sekarang baru mahu cakap tentang perjuangan rakyat Sabah.”

Krisis kredibiliti Dr Jeffrey bukan sahaja terserlah melalui kehilangan kepercayaan rakyat — malah lima orang ADUN STAR sendiri telah meninggalkan beliau dan menyertai GRS, meninggalkan parti yang mereka sudah tidak lagi percayai. Pembelotan besar-besaran ini mendedahkan retakan kepimpinan beliau dan hilangnya keyakinan dalam kalangan bekas penyokongnya sendiri.

Corak oportunisme dan kepentingan diri inilah yang telah mewarnai perjalanan politik Dr Jeffrey selama ini. Seruannya untuk “perpaduan” kini bukan didorong oleh prinsip, tetapi oleh keputusasaan politik — satu usaha terakhir untuk kekal relevan ketika pengaruh dan penyokongnya semakin hilang.

Sebagai parti pembangkang tempatan yang paling konsisten dan berprinsip, Warisan tidak boleh terperangkap dalam muslihat ini. Bekerjasama dengan individu yang telah menyumbang kepada kemerosotan Sabah hanya akan mengelirukan pengundi dan melemahkan kredibiliti moral Warisan sebagai gerakan reformasi yang bersih dan tulen.

Perpaduan sejati tidak boleh dibina atas kepentingan sementara atau ketakutan kehilangan kuasa. Ia mesti berasaskan prinsip, integriti dan kebertanggungjawaban — nilai-nilai yang telah lama diketepikan oleh mereka yang kini berpura-pura memperjuangkannya.

Rakyat Sabah berhak mendapat alternatif yang bersih dan berwibawa, bukan pakatan kitar semula yang lahir daripada keputusasaan dan kepentingan politik.

S L Lim ialah seorang pemerhati politik Sabah.#

Shafie Calls for Humanity, Not PTIs

Datuk Shafie Apdal, a refined technocrat and economist, despite GRS efforts to tarnish his image, remains the one and only Sabah top political leader whose multiracial outlook and honest frankness is outstanding and envied by many. ~Borneo Herald™

By Terrence Siambun, 7-10-2025

THE Warisan leadership condemns the malicious distortion by Borneo Voice, a mouthpiece of GRS, which twisted Datuk Shafie Apdal’s remarks to falsely accuse him of promoting PTIs. We reject this slander entirely.

                          Terrence Siambun

In reality, Shafie’s statement was about the Palauh / Bajau Laut (sea nomad) community — a group that has lived in Sabah’s eastern waters for centuries, without stable documentation or recognition of status. Shafie never advocated blanket citizenship for illegal immigrants. He urged that even stateless communities residing within Sabah’s territorial waters must be treated humanely, documented, and managed — not demonised or ignored.

Shafie said clearly:

“These Palauh have lived in the waters off Sabah’s east coast for hundreds of years. They cannot be equated with PTIs. Under UN principles, the country in whose territory they live has the duty to care for them. They are undocumented; no state currently acknowledges or takes them. Sabah must adopt the best possible approach rather than leaving them adrift without identity.”

That is not support for illegal immigration. It is a call for responsible, dignified governance.

What Datuk Hajiji Noor and Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan Have Already Acknowledged — Yet Borneo Voice Chooses to Ignore

To further show the double standard, note the following public statements by GRS leaders on the very same issue, which mirror Shafie’s logic — yet were never twisted or attacked by Borneo Voice.

1. Hajiji:

In July 2024, Chief Minister Hajiji publicly affirmed that the Palauh / Bajau Laut community is stateless, and must be treated differently from illegal immigrants. He explicitly urged that they not be conflated with PTIs. 

He declared that the state has biometric data on about 27,000 Palauh individuals scattered across Sabah, and that they must be assisted under the United Nations convention on protecting stateless persons. 

In the aftermath of controversial evictions in marine park zones, Hajiji asserted that the state government “will continue protecting the Bajau Laut community” and emphasized that their welfare is a priority. 

Importantly, he warned Sabahans that the Palauh should not be confused with undocumented migrants and stressed the moral and legal responsibilities of the host state. 

Thus, Hajiji himself affirms that the state must care for stateless Palauh communities — the same position Shafie took — yet Borneo Voice elects to treat Shafie’s words as a scandal while ignoring Hajiji’s identically framed statements.

2. Dr Jeffrey:

Dr Jeffrey, as Deputy Chief Minister, has previously committed Sabah to data digitization and registration of undocumented and stateless individuals, as part of the state’s efforts to resolve the statelessness crisis. 

In 2024, he publicly warned that the Palauh / Bajau Laut community “could not be left in limbo” and that their stateless status prevents access to essential services. 

These statements align with Shafie’s call for documentation and humane management — i.e. the very things Borneo Voice now accuses Shafie of promoting.

Hence, GRS leaders have already articulated the same logic: you cannot abandon people simply because they are stateless. You must engage, document, and protect them. Yet only Shafie is singled out for misrepresentation.

Conclusion & Call to Sabahans

Borneo Voice’s attack is neither honest nor consistent. It is opportunistic and directed solely at weakening Shafie and Warisan.

Shafie’s position is founded on human rights, international norms, and pragmatic governance — not political expedience or weakness.

We challenge GRS and Borneo Voice: if they truly believe in humane treatment of stateless communities, then acknowledge that Shafie’s call was principled — not conspiratorial.

Sabahans must not fall prey to distortion. The real culprit is not Shafie — the real culprit is falsehood in the service of politics.

Terrence Siambun is a Vice President of Parti Warisan, Sabah

Shafie Menyeru Kemanusiaan, Bukan PTI

Oleh Terrence Siambun

Kota Kinabalu — Pimpinan Parti Warisan mengecam sekeras-kerasnya pemutarbelitan jahat oleh Borneo Voice, lidah rasmi GRS, yang telah memutar kenyataan Datuk Shafie Apdal untuk menuduh beliau kononnya menyokong PTI. Fitnah ini sama sekali tidak benar dan amat tidak bertanggungjawab.

Sebenarnya, kenyataan Shafie merujuk kepada komuniti Palauh / Bajau Laut — golongan yang telah menetap di perairan Timur Sabah selama berabad-abad lamanya tanpa dokumentasi tetap atau pengiktirafan status yang sah. Shafie tidak pernah menyeru agar pendatang tanpa izin diberikan kewarganegaraan secara menyeluruh. Apa yang beliau tekankan ialah bahawa komuniti tanpa negara (stateless) yang telah lama menetap dalam perairan wilayah Sabah perlu dilayan dengan perikemanusiaan, didokumentasikan, dan diurus dengan baik — bukan dihina atau dibiarkan begitu sahaja.

Shafie dengan jelas menyatakan:

> “Golongan Palauh ini telah hidup di perairan Pantai Timur Sabah selama ratusan tahun. Mereka tidak boleh disamakan dengan PTI. Berdasarkan prinsip PBB, negara yang wilayahnya mereka diami mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk menjaga mereka. Mereka ini tidak berdokumen; tiada negara yang mengiktiraf atau menerima mereka. Sabah mesti mengambil pendekatan terbaik dan bukan membiarkan mereka terus hanyut tanpa identiti.”

Ini bukan sokongan terhadap pendatang haram — sebaliknya ia adalah seruan untuk tadbir urus yang bertanggungjawab dan berperikemanusiaan.

Apa yang Hajiji dan Dr. Jeffrey Sudah Akui — Tetapi Borneo Voice Pilih untuk Abaikan

Bagi menunjukkan sikap hipokrit dan dwi-standard mereka, berikut adalah kenyataan umum oleh pemimpin GRS sendiri mengenai isu yang sama — yang selaras dengan pendirian Shafie — tetapi tidak pula diputar atau diserang oleh Borneo Voice.

1. Hajiji Noor

Pada Julai 2024, Ketua Menteri Hajiji Noor secara terbuka mengakui bahawa komuniti Palauh / Bajau Laut adalah golongan tanpa negara (stateless), dan mesti dilayan berbeza daripada pendatang tanpa izin. Beliau menegaskan bahawa mereka tidak wajar disamakan dengan PTI.

Beliau turut menyatakan bahawa kerajaan negeri mempunyai data biometrik kira-kira 27,000 individu Palauh di seluruh Sabah dan mereka perlu dibantu berdasarkan Konvensyen Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu mengenai Perlindungan Orang Tanpa Negara.

Selepas insiden pengusiran di kawasan taman laut, Hajiji menegaskan bahawa kerajaan negeri “akan terus melindungi komuniti Bajau Laut” dan bahawa kebajikan mereka adalah keutamaan.

Paling penting, beliau turut mengingatkan rakyat Sabah agar tidak mengelirukan golongan Palauh dengan pendatang tanpa izin, serta menekankan tanggungjawab moral dan undang-undang kerajaan negeri terhadap mereka.

Jelas bahawa Hajiji sendiri mengakui tanggungjawab kerajaan untuk menjaga komuniti Palauh yang tidak berdokumen — iaitu pendirian yang sama seperti yang diutarakan oleh Shafie. Namun Borneo Voice memilih untuk memutar kenyataan Shafie sebagai isu politik, sambil menutup mata terhadap kenyataan Hajiji yang serupa.

2. Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan

Dr. Jeffrey, selaku Timbalan Ketua Menteri, sebelum ini pernah menegaskan komitmen kerajaan negeri terhadap pendigitalan data dan pendaftaran individu tanpa dokumen serta tanpa negara, sebagai sebahagian daripada usaha menyelesaikan krisis statelessness.

Pada tahun 2024, beliau secara terbuka mengingatkan bahawa komuniti Palauh / Bajau Laut “tidak boleh dibiarkan terus terumbang-ambing” dan bahawa status tanpa negara mereka menghalang akses kepada perkhidmatan asas.

Kenyataan ini seiring dengan seruan Shafie agar mereka didokumentasikan dan diurus secara berperikemanusiaan — perkara yang kini dijadikan bahan fitnah oleh Borneo Voice.

Justeru, pemimpin-pemimpin GRS sendiri telah menyuarakan logik yang sama: anda tidak boleh menafikan kewujudan manusia hanya kerana mereka tanpa negara. Mereka perlu dikenal pasti, didokumentasi dan dilindungi. Namun hanya Shafie yang diserang dan disalah tafsir.

Kesimpulan & Seruan kepada Rakyat Sabah

Serangan Borneo Voice bukan sahaja tidak jujur malah penuh kepura-puraan. Ia bermotifkan politik semata-mata untuk melemahkan Shafie dan Parti Warisan.

Pendirian Shafie berpaksikan hak asasi manusia, norma antarabangsa, dan tadbir urus yang berprinsip — bukan kelemahan atau kepentingan politik.

Kami mencabar GRS dan Borneo Voice: jika benar mereka percaya pada layanan berperikemanusiaan terhadap komuniti tanpa negara, maka akuilah bahawa seruan Shafie itu berprinsip — bukan konspirasi.

Rakyat Sabah jangan terpedaya dengan pembohongan politik. Yang bersalah bukan Shafie — yang bersalah ialah mereka yang menyebarkan kepalsuan demi kuasa.

Kenyataan Media Terrence Siambun

Naib Presiden, Parti Warisan, Sabah#~Borneo Herald™