KOTA KINABALU: As Malaysia aims to be a developed nation with an economy that is competitively inclusive, sustainable, robust and resilient, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) assured it will continue working harder to bring development to the State and the rights of Sabahans is safeguarded. “As UPKO grows stronger by the day, the New Year rejuvenates our spirit to continue championing the struggle of the Momogun community in accordance to the party’s objectives,” said UPKO supremo, Datuk Seri Madius Tangau in his New Year message.
On the issues that had been manipulated by the opposition, Madius said, “I would suggest for them to stop hoodwinking the rakyat, good at only promising the moon, ‘pandai jual air liur saja’ but failing miserably in delivering their promises. It is always easier to blame others to camouflage their own failures and to compensate all the talks they never intend to walk.”
He reminded that there is no one cure for all, as we need to be comprehensive and diverse in our approach. A total inclusiveness is far trickier to achieve than what most people ever think. One solution might be suitable for one community but not for another.
Madius further reiterated that it was clear that the opposition were running out of ideas and now resorting to issues with distorted facts. He also said most of the issues raised by the opposition were merely rhetoric and some based purely on speculations, which he believed would not be bought by the politically-matured people in Sabah.
For example on the allegations that Sabahans are ‘forced’ to go out seeking for employment abroad or in Peninsula, he said it has been wrongly highlighted as a negative indicator in terms of job opportunity in Sabah. This is the very nature of normal human being everywhere.
“When people reach certain level of ‘advancement’ (be it in education, awareness, self-esteem, etc); they (especially the younger generation) would naturally seek for new challenges and opportunities outside of their own comfort zones. It does not necessarily indicate the bad state of where they are; but rather showing how they have grown mentally as a person.
“Just to make a point to how hideous the opposition’s allegations are, one just needs to look at our commercial agro industry. For the past several years, the job market in Sabah has expanded tremendously especially in the oil palm sector. In 2012, a local daily reported if Sabah were an independent country, it would be the world’s third largest producer of palm oil,” he said.
A Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) report stated that in 2015 that the oil palm planted area reached 5.64 million hectares, with 1.54 million hectares or 27 per cent of the total oil palm planted area are located in Sabah. Meanwhile according to the Chief Minister in his recent 2017 Budget speech, 24.5% of the state revenue will be from the sales tax on the crude palm oil (CPO) which approximately translates into RM936 million.
“Without doubt the numbers are impressive indeed. This palm oil industry, which has been one of the current important pillars for Sabah economy, is a state classic success story. The benefits are not only for the big players but also go directly to the thousands of smallholders in the state,” said Tangau.
According to him, the state Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership has ensured there are enough ‘slices of cake’ for everyone to enjoy in the Sabah’s palm oil industry. The million-dollar question is: are our youths interested to stay and grab the opportunities?
Next, let’s take a case in point; poverty and equitable wealth distribution. Madius said the government has established deliberate policies to uplift the income of the people, reduce inequality and bridge the development gap. As a result, Sabah recorded the second fastest rise in median household income during the period 2009 to 2014 with a 81.3 per cent or from RM2,066 to RM3,745 per month.
In a bigger picture, hardcore poverty rates for Sabah and Sarawak which were more than 50 per cent in the 1960s and 1970s had also shown huge reductions since 2009. The hardcore poverty rate for Sabah has seen a drop from 19.2 per cent in 2009 to just 3.9 per cent in 2014 and similarly in Sarawak, the state government recorded big success in reducing its hardcore poverty rate from 5.3 per cent in 2009 to just 0.9 per cent of households.
In terms of income inequality, Sabah and Sarawak have never been better, as can be seen from the large drops of the Gini coefficient index (measurement of income distribution) for Sabah from 0.453 in 2009 to 0.390 in 2014; while Sarawak recorded a drop from 0.448 to 0.391.
Madius said that other than the Pan-Borneo Highway project with a total budget of RM29 billion, numerous other development projects hve already been implemented or planned for Sabah.
Madius who is also Tuaran member of parliament, added the highly anticipated Telipok-Tompulan-Kiulu-Pukak-Pahu-Torolobou-Ronggogung road project would be carried out in full gear with the Prime Minister expected to officiate at its ground-breaking ceremony in the first quarter of 2017.
The project once completed would benefit not just the local community residing along the new road but also the whole of Sabah, as it provides another alternative road to link the State Capital and Ranau, as well as the east of Sabah. It would facilitate the mobilisation of both people and goods, which means socio-economic activities will be more intensified.
“There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that since 2009 under the current government of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, bridging the development gap between East and West Malaysia has been a top priority. Significant efforts in a form of allocations, investments and intervening policies — such as minimum wages, BR1M and others — have been formulated for Sabah and Sarawak to achieve this. And the results cannot be disputed,” he said.
“The recent Sarawak elections that saw BN emerging victors and even reversing previous gains by the opposition was a clear indication of the people’s approval on the BN government’s efforts since 2009. A victory of such magnitude would not be possible if the people could not see and feel the tangible outcomes of BN transformation programs in East Malaysia.
“It is clear that the approach by the BN government is to ensure no one is left out. With a true spirit of inclusiveness, everyone will be able to be part of the collective success in a sustainable manner, he said.
On the Malaysia Agreement 1963, he firmly said that Sabah and Sarawak are equal partners within Malaysia. “UPKO will never waver in ensuring this to be continually upheld, which include fighting for whatever shortcomings in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, albeit in UPKO’s way,” he said.
“Couple of months ago, a rookie opposition made a statement that UPKO must also lead all the state’s MPs to demand the Prime Minister to reinstate Sabah’s rights under the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) instead of forming action committee after committee. This can be attained in the Cabinet.
“I would thank him for entrusting UPKO to lead the MA63 initiatives but to suggest that it can be attained in the Cabinet, again this only proves how little do these opposition know on how political decision-making and negotiation work in Malaysia,” he said.
According to Tangau, the party has submitted proposed resolutions on the MA63 to ensure that all recommendations made in the agreement can be implemented to enhance the wellbeing of the Sabah people, to Najib last November. This is the right platform and approach to push the agenda directly to where it really matters.
Notably, he said UPKO’s stand has been firm and clear about the PAS’s private members’ bill in Parliament, which seeks to amend Act 355 (Shariah Courts). The party will oppose any form of proposed private member’s bill to safeguard the true spirit of the Malaysia Agreement, especially when it is associated with the interest of Sabah and Sarawak.
Madius explained that UPKO have fought hard to stay relevant in this country and will continue to do so, for the sake of our very own unique identity among its citizens of different culture and faith, and that is being Malaysian.
“Furthermore, UPKO believes that a consensus decision, listening to the opinions of every party which represent the various races in Malaysia, to be the best approach. Therefore this current practice must continue and all component parties have to protect this principle so that we can overcome any challenges together as a united plural society,” he said.
Tangau added the amendment of the Income Tax Act 1967, which was criticised by the Sabah Council of Churches in a statement by its president, has also been manipulated for political purposes by the opposition.
The explanation by Second Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani on the matter was very clear. Public donation would not be affected, which means such fund would remain tax-free, contrary to the council’s president’s statement, he said.
Johari had also said that the amendment was to plug a loophole in the Act, which would allow religious bodies to use donations for investment that help generates profit. Instead of attempting to weaken the church movement as it was alleged, the new amendment is actually aimed to strengthen the church institution itself.
“Perhaps a quick check with the relevant authorities could clear the air straightaway,” said Madius.
“Ushering in 2017, we all need to reflect on our preparation for the future,” said Madius further extended his New Year message.
“I think it is imperative to ask the more important and interesting question: how Sabah faces the challenges posted by the Fourth Industrial Revolution?” he added.
Madius who is also Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said being at the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution which leverages on the pervasive power of digitisation and ICT, Sabahans need to focus on how we shape the technology we employ to socioeconomically propel Sabah’s future.
“Why is innovation important in creating a progressive society for a sustainable tomorrow?
“The reality everybody needs to understand is that prosperity of any nation in the 21st century is decided by its capacity to innovate. Innovation will have a larger impact on the people and on the nation’s economy at a pace and on a scale that are unprecedented.
“The move towards people growth was addressed in the 11th Malaysian Plan (2016-2020) and the best platform is by leveraging on STI. Moving forward together, Sabahans must realise that STI is the driver of the new economy, it spurs the creation of new businesses, new jobs and drives productivity. This collective growth is the key for emerging economies like Malaysia to make the leap to be at the next level, the developed economies,” he pointed out.
“Sabah is one of the globalmega biodiversity hot spots with a myriad of plant and animal species, many of which are endemic to our land. Having this natural advantage, Sabah has a lot of things to offer in terms of biodiversity data which can be acquired, stored and studied properly for commercial purposes. Therefore biotechnology and bioeconomy could be among the new growth areas for the state of Sabah.
“All this remains a dream if we do not have the STI capacity to realise it. If we do not successfully prepare ourselves, we would not be able to tap the vast wealth that sciences, technologies and innovations of the future holds.
“One of the key components to realising this dream is via education, which means to develop the much needed Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talents. As we head towards a rapidly growing technology-centred world, it is of no surprise that the demand for STEM in the industry of today has also increased tremendously. STEM-related careers have shown to yield a 12% increase in the average monthly household income to RM6,141 in 2014 as compared to RM4,025 in 2009.
“Hence, we need to ensure we develop the much needed STEM talent today for the future of tomorrow.”
On another note, he said it was imperative for unity to be safeguarded at all cost.
“Our unity is a priceless gift from the founding fathers of our beloved nation. We are very fortunate that they laid a solid foundation based on the principles of ethnic solidarity, mutual understanding and working together towards a progressive nation.
“National development and progress demands the need to consolidate and strengthen unity in the name of national interest, regardless of our political convictions, religious creed or race. We have weathered many storms in the last five decades only because we are united. Therefore we need to safeguard our precious unity above everything else,” he said.