Inclusive and comprehensive development policies: CM
Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 Text Size: Hajiji during his speech at the Istiadat Pengurniaan Darjah-Darjah Kebesaran in conjunction with the official 74th birthday celebration of the Head of State, Tun Musa Aman, at Istana Seri Kinabalu, Saturday. THE State Government will continue to strengthen the implementation of inclusive and comprehensive development policies through the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap in its efforts to ensure sustained progress and the well-being of the people in the state. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that since its introduction, the policy has had a significant impact, particularly in areas such as economic recovery, investment, agriculture, human capital development, and public welfare. 'Alhamdulillah, we are witnessing growing investment activities and increased state revenue collection in recent years. This is proof of the effectiveness of the government's approach,' he said, in his speech during the Istiadat Pengurniaan Darjah-Darjah Kebesaran in conjunction with the official 74th birthday celebration of the Head of State, Tun Musa Aman, at Istana Seri Kinabalu, Saturday. He added that the State Government is also focusing on the development of the agricultural sector, which is a key contributor to ensuring food security in Sabah. Among the initiatives were establishment of the Sabah Rice and Padi Board (LPBS) and the launch of the Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme (STTP) aimed at increasing the state's rice Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL) from 24 per cent in 2025 to sixty per cent by 2030. 'This is a strategic step to ensure Sabah becomes more self-reliant in basic food production, thereby reducing dependence on imports,' he said.
Advertisement He added that human capital development, especially among the younger generation, remains a top priority for the government through various youth development programmes such as skills training, education, entrepreneurship, leadership and sports. Hajiji said the State Government has also approved the establishment of the Sabah State TVET Council as a platform to coordinate and monitor technical and vocational education and training to meet current industry needs. 'We want to ensure Sabah's youths are equipped with the knowledge and skills relevant to contribute to the development of the state and the nation.' Hajiji also emphasised that the strong relationship and close cooperation with the Federal Government will continue to be upheld to ensure Sabah is not left behind in the national development agenda. He said the State Government highly values the various forms of assistance and initiatives provided by the Federal Government, including in infrastructure, health, education, and security. He expressed his appreciation to the Prime Minister for the Federal Government's commitment to defending Sabah's rights and sovereignty, including the successful rejection of external claims on the state at the international level. 'Malaysia's success in repelling foreign claims on Sabah proves that the sovereignty of this state remains firm under the Federation of Malaysia, and this gives confidence and reassurance to all Sabahans,' 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.
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Daily Express
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How Emergency affected Sabah and Sarawak: Both states yet to see MA63 autonomy fully restored despite revocation of the Emergency Ordinance in 2011
Published on: Sunday, June 29, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 29, 2025 By: Datuk Roger Chin Text Size: Few moments in Malaysian history have reshaped the constitutional fabric of the Federation as profoundly as the 1969 Emergency. For Sabah and Sarawak, the Emergency did not just suspend civil liberties — it laid the groundwork for a slow dismantling of the autonomy promised under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The Proclamation of Emergency in 1969, triggered by the 13 May riots in Peninsular Malaysia, profoundly reshaped Malaysia's constitutional framework. Beyond its immediate suspension of civil liberties, it initiated a centralisation of power that altered the federal structure originally negotiated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). Relying on Article 150 of the Federal Constitution, the Federal Government enacted a series of Emergency Ordinances that bypassed both democratic oversight and state consent. 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These ordinances disrupted the federal balance and centralised control over petroleum, law enforcement, and legislative powers. Territorial Boundaries Undermined - From Continental Shelf to 3 Nautical Miles Ordinance No. 7 and subsequently the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (TSA 2012) codified the restriction of state jurisdiction to 3 nautical miles from the coast. This legal sleight of hand over maritime boundaries set the stage for the more consequential centralisation of Sabah and Sarawak's petroleum wealth. This contradicts the 1954 North Borneo and Sarawak Orders in Council, which defined their boundaries as extending to the edge of the continental shelf. The application of TSA 2012 to Sabah and Sarawak is constitutionally suspect, as Article 2(b) of the Federal Constitution requires the consent of both the state legislative assemblies and the Conference of Rulers for any alteration of state boundaries. No such consent was obtained. Beyond legal infringement, this restriction has real-world consequences for marine resource rights, indigenous fishing communities, and state planning authority over maritime development. These limitations impact the exercise of Native Customary Rights (NCR), particularly among coastal and island communities whose traditional fishing zones now fall under exclusive federal jurisdiction. Petroleum Development Act 1974 - A Centralised Grab Passed during Emergency rule, the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA 1974) vested ownership and regulatory control of petroleum in Petronas, under federal authority. Section 2(1) vests ownership in Petronas. Section 2(2) grants it exclusive regulatory powers. However, land and natural resources are matters under List II (State List) of the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution. The PDA was passed without the consent or adoption of the Sabah and Sarawak legislatures and without invoking Article 76(1)(c) or 76(2). With the revocation of the Emergency in 2011, the continued enforcement of the PDA in Sabah and Sarawak is open to constitutional challenge. Sarawak, for instance, has reasserted its rights under the Oil Mining Ordinance 1958 (OMO1958) and the imposition of State Sales Tax (SST) on petroleum products — a move upheld by the Court in Petronas v Comptroller of State Sales Tax, Sarawak [2020] 6 MLJ 1. The Frozen Special Grant Reviews - A Breach of Fiscal Federalism MA63 enshrined fiscal safeguards through Articles 112C(1) and 112D(4): Article 112C(1) entitles Sabah and Sarawak to a special grant. Article 112D(4) mandates that the grant be reviewed every five years. The first and only review occurred in 1969, but its recommendations were never implemented. For decades thereafter, no reviews took place. This dereliction, enabled by Emergency-era centralisation, amounts to a prolonged breach of constitutional duty. 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The legacy of this inaction persists to this day, and any new review must take into account the decades of underpayment and the urgent need for restitution. Federal Laws Imposed Without Consent During and after the Emergency, federal legislation was extended to Sabah and Sarawak without compliance with Article 76 of the Federal Constitution. Examples include: Education Act 1996 Local Government Act 1976 Under Article 76: Subsection (1)(b) requires a state request for Parliament to legislate on State List matters. Subsection (2) requires state consent to impose laws for uniformity. These constitutional safeguards were bypassed, eroding state autonomy and violating the spirit of MA63. Constitutional Supremacy and Post-Emergency Legality Article 4(1) of the Federal Constitution establishes that the Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation. Emergency Ordinances, while valid during the Emergency, lost immunity from judicial review once the Proclamation was revoked in 2011. 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The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) was formed on January 10, 2023. It fully took over the regulatory authority for power generation [including renewable energy] on 3 January 2024. In anticipation of Sabah's future energy needs, the GRS government has added the Ocean Thermal Energy Enactment 2024 on April 25, 2024. This amendment empowers ECoS to regulate activities related to Ocean Thermal Power Conversion (OTEC). A most forward-looking move! Instant Solution for Sabah's Power Shortage is Impossible. 4 easily understood reasons: First. Lest anyone has the urging to play the blame game, Sabah's power shortages have started more than 40 years ago. Sabah's power needs have been neglected this long! No quick-fix solution is possible. Second. Power generation requires massive financial resources and construction time. It is not like cooking cheap instant noodle. Third. Power generation is expensive. The ECoS plan is possible and Sabah government can now actively partake in its development because Masidi has put the Sabah's financial management in order. Revenue has been at an all-time high since Hajiji's take over. Now at RM8b, almost double from 2020. Fourth. Hajiji's successful economic restructure has produced investors' confidence in power generation. ECoS has Produced a Miracle for Sabah. No more 18 years of waiting for approvals! ECoS, formed on 3 January, 2023, took over complete regulatory control only on 3 January 2024. CEO Nasser, all engineers, and staff are all Sabahans. They have done an incredible job. Within less than 2 years, everything is in place that will solve Sabah 40-year-old power shortages. Nasser and his team have even got a roadmap that will give Sabah sufficient power beyond 2030. Most impressive is that ECoS has incorporated BESS [Battery Energy Storage System] biomass, solar and hydro to generate power in its master plan. 1 BESS is being installed in Lahad Datu. This is a new dimension for power generation for Sabah. Before, it was total reliant on diesel and gas. ECoS now also plays a pivotal role with state GLCs to strategize gas planning for power and industry needs. The attached chart is self-explanatory and reflective of the ECoS miracle, doubling present 1200 MW capacity. Hajiji's retake of power generation from KL is Pivotal for Sabah's Future. Several reasons: [1]. It is the first ever serious attempt to resolve Sabah's 40-year-old power problem, 40 years of economic doldrum. Soon, these 40 long miserable years will be over. Sabahans must have faith that the all Sabahan ECoS team under Nasser can and will solve this 40-year power problem. A new chapter of power supply is being unfolded now. Soon, when new power generations begin, Sabahans will begin to experience better lives. [2] ECoS plan has inspired investors' confidence. ECoS' master plan has played a indispensable role in Hajiji's strategy to attract massive investment into Sabah. Major foreign investors would not have shown interest or invest their billions in Sabah unless they have faith in ECoS' long term power plan. Sabah is a leading state in inflow of investment, implemented, being implemented and committed total RM58b. [3] ECoS' power master plan will have tremendous impact for all small businesses as constant supply of power will improve their business like never before. [4] For all Sabahans, we can live in better comfort. Babies can sleep in air-con comfort with no disruptions. For the rural folks, in situ solar power for individual kampongs is coming. Hajiji's Creation of ECoS for Sabah, How Important for Sabah's Future To sceptics, please consider these objectives of ECoS: [1] Energy Autonomy and Self-Regulation: ECoS is now the sole regulatory authority for onshore gas supply (since January 2023) and electricity supply and renewable energy (since January 2024) from federal bodies like Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST) Malaysia and the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA). ECoS has direct oversight of licensing, approvals, and policy execution, streamlining processes and potentially boosting investor confidence in the state's energy sector in Sabah. [2] Driving Renewable Energy Development: ECoS will increase Sabah's renewable energy mix. The target is over 50% capacity by 2035 and 80% by 2050. This will be in line with Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). [3] Securing, Sustainable, Affordable, and Accessible Energy: ECoS' vision is to deliver secure, sustainable, affordable, and accessible energy for Sabah. [4] Providing Consumer Protection and Safety: ECoS actively undertakes initiatives to protect consumer interests. [5] Economic Growth and Job Creation, ECoS will develop a vibrant sustainable energy sector and will generate employments for Sabahans. [6] Attracting local and foreign direct investments. [7] Developing skills for Sabahans, especially young Sabahans in the energy sector. [8] Promoting regional corporation, especially Sarawak. ECoS has achieved most of its above objectives within its short existence. All these objectives, though will take a bit of time, will elevate Sabah's economic performance to the forefront once again. ECoS is Epitome of 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga.' Hajiji's Success Template for GLCs and Agencies. In addition to Hajiji's GLC successful templates, ECoS is an excellent showcase for GLCs and Agencies. Sabah can be great again when other GLCs and agencies follow their examples. No more Sabah's power problems falling on deaf ears. Sabah has complete control of our destiny in power generation. ECoS is the living testimony that Sabahans can solve Sabah's fundamental problems. We do not need to beg or run to others. ECoS has proven that Sabahans can do it, can do it fast, can do it better. With Nasser's all Sabahan ECoS team, Sabah has moved fast to solve the 40-year-old power problems. They have a sense of urgency to solve the power needs of Sabah because they are Sabahans! ECoS can approve power generation within months, not years, certainly not decades. In Nasser's all-Sabahan ECoS team, we can confidently say to ourselves 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga Baik Baik' WITH PRIDE. The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
