Sabah never a priority for peninsula-based coalitions: Pairin
Published on: Mon, Jul 07, 2025
By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Pairin responding to reporters at the event while johnny (left) and others look on. PAPAR: The Sabah Government must be led by local-based parties to ensure true progress for the State and people, rather than political coalitions dominated by Peninsular Malaysian parties. Former Chief Minister and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Premier Advisor Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said it is crucial for local leadership to govern Sabah so as to safeguard the state's interests and drive development tailored to State's unique needs.
Advertisement 'It's very simple. If the dominant party (governing the State Government) comes from Semenanjung (Peninsular Malaysia), they are not really thinking about our development here. 'They have always been focusing more on their wilayah (regions). To be fair, this is Malaysia,' he said, after opening PBS Limbahau's 40th Annual General Meeting at the multipurpose hall of Mositun Kg Sungkadon-Novoung, Sunday. Also present were PBS Limbahau divisional head Datuk Johnny Mositun, PBS senior leaders Datuk Seri Radin Malleh and Datuk Edward Yong, former Buang Sayang assemblyman Datuk Claudius Sundang Alex, and divisional heads. Barisan Nasional (BN) — led by Umno in Sabah — governed the state for about 24 years continuously from 1994 to 2018 until defeated by Warisan in the 2018 general election. Pairin, who is also Huguan Siou or paramount leader of the Kadazandusun Murut (KDM) community, was asked to explain his call to the delegates here on the importance of making sure local parties become the backbone of the State government. Based on his political knowledge and experience as well as holding various ministerial portfolios during the then governance by BN in Sabah for almost three decades, he said key issues under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) remain unresolved even after more than six decades since the formation of Malaysia. 'It's (claiming for Sabah rights and interests under MA63) still on the negotiating table. That cannot be — we're supposed to be over 60 years already, and yet we are still suffering,' he said. Pairin urged Sabahans to ensure local parties get the mandate to form the State Government. 'That must be the focus because the thinking and heart of local parties of Sabahan leaders lies sympathetically with the state and its people,' he said. Asked whether his stance aligned with the slogan 'Sabah for Sabahans,' Pairin replied, 'Yes, that is the reminder.' Earlier, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Deputy-Secretary General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali expressed the same sentiment. To a question, Pairin said PBS is ready to defend the Limbahau State seat in the coming State poll; besides other constituencies. He said PBS has long championed Limbahau and that it was only fitting for the party to contest the seat again. 'Our PBS Limbahau divisional head (Datuk Johnny Mositun) has been fighting for such a long time, non-stop. I think it should be considered. This is not over yet; it's still ongoing. 'As for other constituencies, everyone has their own opinion. We will deliver it to the party leadership to be discussed and considered,' he said. Pairin also called on Sabah youths who have turned 18 and automatically become voters to cast their votes as they are leaders who will inherit and shape Sabah's future and the nation. 'It is very important for leaders in political parties to ensure that the younger generation realize that they have the responsibility. 'The responsibility is to realise that this is their country, this is their state, this is their home, and this is where they expect to work and have families – where their future lies. Meanwhile, PBS Acting President Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said co-operation with peninsula-based parties is important, but priority must be given to political stability and leadership at the state level. He added that such collaboration should only exist when local parties (GRS) are at the helm of Sabah. 'Sabah is our homeland. We understand it better and are in a stronger position to resolve issues in a more inclusive and comprehensive manner,' he stressed. He also reminded PBS members that they are the backbone of the party and urged the entire party machinery to rise and champion PBS's aspirations throughout the state. 'We must work hard for the party and support each other to achieve success,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Increasing assembly seats necessary for Sarawak's devt trajectory, says rep
See Chee How — Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (July 7): Increasing the number of State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats from 82 to 99 is a necessary step forward in line with Sarawak's development trajectory and institutional needs. Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How said the move reflects principles of good governance, and is consistent with Sarawak's ongoing efforts to strengthen legislative capacity in increasing its administrative, legislative and fiscal autonomy. 'The rationale behind the (Dewan Undangan Negeri [Composition of Membership]) Bill—particularly the increase in electorate numbers and the need for more effective representation—was well-argued. 'However, the reference to Sarawak's accelerated pace of development since 2014 understated the scale of the state's progress and financial achievements over the past decade,' he said when debating the Bill during a sitting at the DUN Complex today. He viewed the proposed increase of seats as timely, describing it as a 'vital institutional reform to support the demands of modern governance'. See said it would enhance the DUN's ability to respond to Sarawak's development needs, particularly in relation to devolution under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and improve public accountability. He referenced international examples such as Singapore, which has 99 Members of Parliament serving a significantly smaller land area, to illustrate how Sarawak—with its vast geographical spread—requires adequate legislative representation. 'However, land size alone should not be the sole determining factor in setting legislative composition. 'However, a more representative assembly would allow for the strengthening of democratic processes, including the formation of parliamentary select committees to scrutinise government actions and policies,' he said, adding that these committees were essential for transparency, oversight and promoting accountability in public administration. 'Thus, I hope that in tandem with the increase in elected members, the assembly would soon consider legislation to expand the number of members appointed to the State Cabinet to better reflect the composition and workload of the legislature.'
Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Chong Chieng Jen ejected from DUN sitting after clash with Speaker over debate remarks
Chong is escorted out of the august House by a Sergeant-at-Arms after being ordered to leave by Mohd Asfia during the Special One-Day Sitting of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. — Photo by Penerangan KUCHING (July 7): Chong Chieng Jen (DAP–Padungan) was ordered to leave the chamber and suspended from attending the Special One-Day Sitting of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today after defying instructions from Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar. The Speaker made the ruling after Chong refused to comply with his directive to sit down and refrain from causing a disturbance during Batu Kitang assemblyman's Lo Khere Chiang's debate presentation. At the time, Lo was addressing the House and claimed that Chong and (DAP-Pending) Violet Yong did not support the Dewan Undangan Negeri (Composition of Members) Bill 2025 and opposed the proposed increase in state seats. 'It appears that the members for Pending and Padungan don't want Sabah and Sarawak to have one-third of the representation in Parliament, in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). 'The member for Padungan says he supports increasing Sarawak's parliamentary seats, yet he refuses to support increasing state seats right here in Sarawak,' Lo said. He went on to cite a view previously expressed by Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, stating that there is no such thing as one state seat for one Parliament seat. 'Once again, we see the typical double standard from DAP. 'Their arguments are not only inconsistent — they are fundamentally flawed,' Lo added. However, speaking at a press conference shortly after being ordered out of the House, Chong said Lo had made a false allegation by claiming that they did not support the increase of Sarawak's parliamentary seats in the Federal Parliament. 'He (Lo) made a direct accusation, which is untrue, because both myself and Yong have spoken and made our stand very clear. 'Table the increment of parliamentary seats in Parliament, and all our MPs will support it. That has always been our position. 'He made a direct accusation which is a lie, and under the Standing Orders, we are entitled to rise and interject,' Chong asserted.
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Sabah's 2025 Budget will increase deficit, worsen economic gap, warns Shafie
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's rising expenditure under the 2025 Supplementary Supply Bill will increase the state's mounting deficit and worsen the economic gap between the state government and its people, says Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal. Debating the Bill at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly on Monday (July 7), the Senallang assemblyman and opposition Parti Warisan president said that the additional RM1.2bil allocation on top of the previously approved RM6.7bil, pushes total state spending to almost RM8bil this year, yet there remained little clarity on how this would generate tangible returns for the rakyat. 'We are spending billions, but how much revenue are we actually generating? With this scale of spending, I believe Sabah is now facing a serious deficit,' said the former chief minister. Shafie also questioned the government's decision to raise RM900mil through sukuk bonds to bail out Sabah International Petroleum Sdn Bhd, likening the move to the controversial 1MDB case at the federal level. 'The state government is now in debt. A bailout of this size deserves scrutiny. It is not just about issuing sukuk, the real question is, is this money going where it is truly needed?' he asked. He stressed that every sen of public funds must lead to measurable outcomes, such as job creation, income generation, or directly solving issues affecting people's daily lives, particularly the long-standing water and electricity problems in rural areas. Shafie highlighted the frustration of many Sabahans who still struggle to access clean water, referencing some viral videos on social media of families and peaceful riots pleading for basic needs. 'They don't want luxury … they just want basic necessities like water to drink, shower, and use the toilet,' he said. He also criticised what he saw as a mismatch in spending priorities, stressing that millions were spent on state-level events and programmes that yielded little direct impact, while people were still waiting for their needs to be fulfilled. 'When we allocate extra funds, let it be based on need, not the ceremony. The people deserve more than token allocations,' he said. Shafie also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in certain allocations, including an additional RM1bil channelled to the Chief Minister's Department, describing it as odd based on his 36 years of political experience. 'We need clear answers. We request breakdowns, but often receive vague replies, such as 'for schools and students'. 'I will scrutinise and audit these expenditures, and if there is a change in government, I will ensure any abuse is addressed,' he said firmly, referring to the upcoming 17th state election, which is due by year's end. He reminded the House that these were public funds, paid by everyday Sabahans through taxes on basic goods like stationery, phones, and clothing. Touching on key issues like land rights, energy control, and foreign policy, Shafie urged better coordination between federal and state agencies to avoid repeating past mistakes like those seen in the Sipadan and Ligitan disputes. 'We need to work with our neighbours (Indonesia on developing Ambalat), yes … but not at the cost of Sabah's autonomy or resources. Let's not allow others, including PETRONAS, to dominate all our assets. 'We cannot allow this kind of spending to continue without results. The people deserve better … they deserve real development, not promises,' he said.
