Sabah’s long and uncertain road to change

Are you going to vote?

“No, thank you! I’m sick of it!”

“Nothing seems to change. Anything goes, and it’s always the same old, same old.”

These are the general responses I get when I ask friends and family about the Sabah assembly election on 29 November.

Unfortunately, judging from the current state of events, we might have a lower voter turnout than the last election.

Regardless of circumstances, people in Sabah should still go out to vote. Our vote still matters, even if some have already given up.

Some people vote based on their socioeconomic circumstances. Others vote based on the race and religion of the candidates.

Others are just following the money or those with the biggest influence around.

Whatever it is, the abundance of choices in this election does not make it easier for voters.

While this election has been hailed by many as the “most important election” and the “mother of all elections” (something that is repeated in almost every election), hardly anyone is feeling its full weight.

The last Sabah assembly election was marred by Covid. It affected the people’s ability to vote safely and properly.

This time, however, we seem to be plagued with indifference and fatigue towards our political culture and system.

With at least four-cornered fights in most seats to the remarkable 14-cornered fight in Tulid, the fragmentation is unprecedented.

Many in Sabah feel that none of the major parties and coalitions can fully represent their interests.

As grim and ridiculous as it sounds, the current system seems to have failed us.

Perikatan Nasional’s Hamzah Zainudin recently remarked that many candidates felt the need to contest this election as their way of expressing dissatisfaction towards the ruling government over various issues.  

Is it then any surprise that things are not going well, despite claims of economic growth and prosperity?

Sabah is no stranger to political crises and turmoil.

We suffered the consequences of the Double Six incident in 1976, when an aircraft crash killed the then chief minister, Fuad Stephens, and several other state leaders. Many believe this led to the downfall of Sabah’s autonomy.

With the death of many good leaders, a power vacuum ensued.

The entrance of Umno and then more peninsula-based parties and their rise to power have shifted the balance of Sabah elections, reducing the influence of local parties.

Social engineering efforts under the infamous ‘Project IC’ during Sabah Barisan Nasional’s reign caused demographic imbalances and tensions, especially among the Kadazandusun and ethnic minorities towards undocumented migrants.

The exercise helped pave the way for BN to remain in power through the Malay-bumiputra-Muslim votes.

These episodes in Sabah history serve as a testament as to why rampant corruption persists even after the government changes.

People in Sabah are tired of the no-change, business-as-usual style of governance.

The same issues have been plaguing Sabah for decades – illegal immigration, lack of infrastructure, the economic doldrums and statelessness. Yet there are barely any concrete solutions.

How is it that Sabah is falling way behind the rest of Malaysia? It pales in comparison to neighbouring Sarawak! Even if some have unfavourable views of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak ruling coalition, Sarawak seems to be doing much better than Sabah.

Sarawak leaders have asserted their position, decisions and policies confidently. They are willing to take the risk to advance Sarawak, even though some decisions have been proven to be wrong or unpopular among the people there.  

They are taking the initiative to do the things that Sabah seems to only dream about – regarding oil and gas (Petros), finance (S-Pay Global), infrastructure and transport (autonomous rapid transport system) and more.

Over the last 20 years, Sabah leaders seem to lack backbone and are constantly aligned to their own personal agendas or subservient to the federal government’s direction.

Malaysia is facing a crisis of leadership.

People in Sabah don’t want to be represented by leaders who dismiss, mock of take them for granted.

The reason many in Sabah have lost faith in the system is that there’s too much hypocrisy and double standards among the political class.

Too often they have failed to deliver, and people end up feeling disappointed and dejected.

Publicly many leaders and candidates can say they love the people, the state and its cultures. But how many of them are sincere and say these things not purely for sloganeering and publicity?

Only God and they know what they are in politics for.

If these politicians claim to be patriotic, even nationalistic about Sabah and its future, they have to be prepared to sacrifice a lot of things to bring change.

They have to face criticisms and opposition and not fall for sweet talk.

‘No action, talk only’ tactics need to be shunned, and politicians must prove to the people they can do the job.

Talk is easy and cheap, but real efforts are harsh and costly.

Unfortunately, bad leaders seem to outnumber the good and honest ones nowadays.

There is a quote that says: “Nearly all men can withstand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

The only way people in Sabah can find out if the candidates are worthy is if we vote them into power.

Voters ought to reject political dynasties, especially one that is notoriously in positions of power right now. Reject corruption and empty, fake promises.

Only the people in Sabah should have a say on how to pave their future without foreign interference.

But as it stands, perhaps all of us have to take a leap, with blind faith, believing that whoever is elected in power next will have our interests at heart.

Ultimately, this election is a contest of pragmatism (do what needs to be done) and idealism (how things should be done) in protecting and advancing Sabah’s interests.

Voters need to analyse the various manifestos, candidates and their track records. An informed populace is a populace that results in a government that fears the people – not the other way round.

May I urge everyone to pray for our nation and this election. Regardless of the results, we must lift everything to God, for I believe that all authority comes from the Lord and that he is in control ultimately.

Stay safe and happy voting!

Enoch Lim from Sabah did his master’s in public administration at a public university in the peninsula. He had earlier graduated in Sarawak with a degree in politics and government studies.

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