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Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Sarawak, Sabah politics: Navigating unity in diversity
Abang Johari (front, second right) alongside Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, on his right, seen with other state dignitaries joining in the 'Niti Daun' (Gawai Parade) in Kuching. — Photo by Chimon Upon SIMILAR yet different. Despite the differences, there have been efforts to understand Sabah and Sarawak, the two states of Borneo, as a single, unified entity. These approaches tend to assume a shared path of social and cultural development, overlooking the nuanced experiences of each region. Sarawak and Sabah possess relatively different demographic and political landscapes, although they are territorially neighbours. Grouping them under one 'territorial alliance umbrella' on account of social and historical connections sounds an attractive proposition. Many would view its prospect in a positive light in view of the contrasting ethnic-religious orientation of peninsular politics. It is easy to brush off the suggestion, but we cannot and must not do so hastily, let alone consign it to the dustbin of history. Political winds always shift, and what is currently very unlikely might become reality tomorrow. Social, demographic patterns My attempt at deciphering the changing social and demographic patterns of these two states, and how these influence the dynamics and course of their politics, is essentially a preliminary approximation. It relies mainly on personal observations and existing secondary data serving as a brief overview rather than an in-depth analysis. Sarawak possesses a complex population with various ethnic communities, which make up a vibrant ethnic and religious fabric. It also possesses a distinct 'Sarawakian identity' as well as Malaysian national identity. Sarawak politics is dominated by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the original giant that wants Sarawak to be more independent and keeps Sarawak engaged in a more Malaysian setting. In Sabah, coalition politics sees Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as the ruling government, although its passage of rule is not as smooth as its counterpart in Sarawak. Contending rival parties are keen on vying for control of Sabah in the upcoming election, which is creating instability and could impede progress. The issue is putting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a tough position, which is exacerbated by Sabahans' rising desire for more political decision-making power to be in the hands of the locals. Sarawak possesses a complex population with various ethnic communities, which make up a vibrant ethnic and religious fabric. — Bernama photo Complicated social arithmetic Sabah's political and demographic setting is much more complicated. Though Sabah is ethnically pluralistic, religious and tribal allegiance adds a complicated social arithmetic. Its political tradition is marked by an ever-present coming-and-going of flip-flopping allegiances between contending parties that have the tendency to result in a less stable political culture. This was seen in the recent political meltdown of 2023, as it highlighted the fluidity and volatility of political leadership in the state, which was at variance with the relative stability of Sarawak. The politics of jockeying currently in Sabah is a reflection of attempting to balance diverse interests and rival claims within its multi-dimensional political framework. Sabah and Sarawak politics appear similar, but different in the context of oneness and ethnically diverse nature. Given that the natives, the Chinese and the Malays coexist, the two states have to adopt homogeneous political identities for their own people in a heterogeneous setting. Sarawak continues to build on its decades-long success story, which is the pride of well-meaning Sarawakians, leaving no room for interested parties on the periphery to intervene with their agendas and undermine the political order. With the visionary guidance of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, GPS has managed to uphold the 'Sarawak success story' model, and the state has gone on to record unprecedented growth and development and a blissfully peaceful political climate. Abang Johari's visionary leadership has made it possible for Sarawak to record impressive milestones, as the state is undergoing a continuous development and growth spurt, almost free from political turmoil. Such a commendable feat is evidence of the effectiveness of the 'Sarawak success story' formula painstakingly crafted and cultivated by the GPS leader that has consistently made it possible for the state to flourish and soar to unprecedented heights of prosperity. The steadfast practice of the winning formula speaks volumes about the commitment of Sarawak leaders in building a prosperous and successful society. Led by Premier Abang Johari, the state's collective leadership has reiterated its commitment to put Sarawak's people first and foremost, toward a better future. Coalition politics The multiplicity and diversity of common interests and values in a society can result in coalition politics. Such situations need to be negotiated with complex power-sharing arrangements to promote fair representation and solve the isolated issues stemming from the mixed concerns and needs of various social groups. Sophisticated power-sharing and bargaining need to adapt to representation and handle abnormal issues of differentiated societies to be able to fit into position. This mutual diversity will be susceptible to manifest itself in complex coalition politics that need tuning and adjustment of power in order to provide representation and satisfy particular interests of plural societies. Nevertheless, the divergent historical paths and newly-reconfigured political cultures have yielded diverse forms of adaptation to this oneness. The political experience and expressions in Sabah in recent times speak volumes of this. While both the states have provided institutional spaces for achieving oneness, the storminess of inter-ethnic politics, regionalism, and national party dominance have given their politics so quintessentially Sabahan and Sarawakian hues. It is an engaging analysis in the traps and promises of achieving oneness in profound diversity. Shared diversity Sabah and Sarawak have interestingly similar, but unique, political circumstances from perspectives of unity and ethnic diversity. This shared diversity is expressed in coalition politics, within which defended bargaining and powers of division will be necessary in order to provide representation and attend to each community's specific issues. The separate historical trajectories, though, and the resultant political cultures have yielded different steps towards this unity. While they are both bountiful in their endowment, their politics have been influenced by politics of inter-ethnic relations, regionalism, and national party encroachment. It is, therefore, an exercise worth attempting in the promise and challenge of turning unity out of profound diversity. By the scope of their electoral constituencies and the emergence of their incipient regional identity, Sarawak and Sabah are increasingly making themselves felt in Malaysian federal politics. Politicians at the national level are highly attuned to this, and we can expect to keep seeing efforts to woo Borneo voters, particularly in tight contests. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, who is also GRS chairman, shaking hands with people attending an event held by United Sabah National Organisation in Kota Belud. — Bernama photo Collective bargaining This might entail responsibilities better attuned to the specific needs and concerns of Sabah and Sarawak, and perhaps in a way resulting in the federal policy being more directly shaped by the needs of these two states. A collective bargaining position might become complicated by domestic political pressure within the two states as well as varying priorities, so one is not certain if the 'numbers' from Sabah and Sarawak will be able to show a united front. The driving force behind such devolution, bolstered by the renewed interest in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), is seen to be an all-too-familiar aspect of Sabah and Sarawak politics. The stirring also came with an increased aspiration for more autonomy and rights over resources, and it is certain that both states will continue to push for the complete implementation of MA63. Even though the process of total devolution is complex and riddled with negotiations, the current trajectory is that it shall always be an agenda priority in the Sabah and Sarawak political framework, setting the latter's relationship with the federal government and Malaysian federalism itself. The degree to which the federal government will allow power and resources to be ceded will ultimately dictate the realisation of this agenda of devolution and longer dynamics between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Both in Sarawak and Sabah, rural and urban, there are a number of factors that cut across and support each other in attempting to sway the electoral and party vote. These include socio-economic status, ethnic group membership, access to information, and perceived quality of government services. Even though politicians with urban constituencies normally have more pressing matters such as expanding infrastructure, economic development, and sound governance, old-style leadership and party membership primarily weigh heavily in rural voting. Politicians' rhetoric is normally accompanied by local context congruence and plays a very important role in voting decisions. Youth more issue-conscious Shifting demographics of rural and urban electorates are going to define the electoral formula. Urbanisation is engulfing more youths and educated voters in the urban corridor, so the voter base becomes sensitive and heterogeneous and issues-conscious like saving the earth, social justice, and connectivity. In the rural constituencies, while traditional mores persist, increased access to education and information is gradually producing an increasingly aware and educated voter. This demographic change requires political parties to be more responsive and adjust their narratives and strategies to connect with a larger universe of voter issues. Young people who vote are a force to be multiplied that call the shots in the political landscape. The two states of Borneo are no different. Through their exposure to the cyberworld and social media, they can be mobilised, organised, and can project their voice to push matters of the day. Though they do not get 100 per cent of their vote, generally, they are interested in matters concerning climate change, bribery, affordable housing, and social justice. Their capability for political conversation, challenging prevailing convention, and pressuring their members of parliament to take more responsibility, can lead to deciding factors in election results and government policy that bring political parties to listen to them or risk the loss of their vote. A number of socio-economic issues will most probably determine the political decisions of Sarawak and Sabah young voters in the next state and parliamentary elections. These are such issues as access to education, jobs, and availability of houses at affordable prices that usually take precedence over conventional political loyalties. Local issues such as infrastructure and connectivity for less accessible areas, conservation of environment, and safeguarding local rights and customs are also given priority at the highest level. Responsiveness and sensitivity of political parties to such local issues do count. In addition, web literacy and online exposure to counter-arguments on the Internet make youth voters more informed, and perhaps, more critical of hegemonic discourses. They are also attracted to parties that promise new solutions, struggle with openness and responsibility, and demonstrate sincere commitment to putting their interests into practice under a desired government – one that is functional and inclusive. The choices that they will make will ultimately be based on a sophisticated combination of rational calculation, emotional identification, and the appeal of campaign rhetoric. The number of young voters is growing and they have the potential to tip the scales in key urban seats. Demographic shift The rising number of young voters represents a significant demographic shift with the potential to reshape electoral outcomes, particularly in densely-populated urban areas. This is true in Sabah as it is Sarawak, and this is becoming a growing definer of political trends in both states. Past younger generations have always registered lower voting turnout than the elderly folks. More recently, there have been tendencies toward greater youth participation in the political process. Climate change, economic disparity and social justice are among the drivers motivating these younger generations to become progressively more aware of politics and eager to vote. In the urban areas, where young adults are also concentrated by education and career prospects, their increased numbers can be a voting influence bloc. Their combined voice, if well mobilised, can influence elections and policy space towards responsive directions along their values and interests, even win close elections and push politicians to take up issues of this generation. Maybe a comparative study of the potential impact of the growing number of young, educated and affluent voters across the vast expanse of the political space in both states is worth an effort to pursue. Why? In order to have a clearer vision of the politics of the future, we need more critical and refined discussions of what the young generations politically see and believe. We need to move beyond observing how much they are involved or claiming to hold which beliefs and critically examine what lies beneath to shape their attitudes, motivations, and levels of engagement. We need to peer deeper than surface knowledge and explore the complexities of how they interact with political regimes, institutions, and actors. * Toman Mamora is 'Tokoh Media Sarawak 2022', recipient of Shell Journalism Gold Award (1996) and AZAM Best Writer Gold Award (1998). He remains true to his decades-long passion for critical writing as he seeks to gain insight into some untold stories of societal value. borneo diversity politics sabah sarawak
The Print
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Print
MCL to start operation in two new coal mines in Odisha's Talcher area by FY 2029-30
Similarly, the Balabhadra coal mine with a capacity of 10 MT will be made operational by the end of financial year 2029-30, he said. 'We are going to start operation of the Subhadra coal mine having a reserve of 25 MT in Talcher area by the end of financial year 2025-26,' chairman cum managing director (CMD) of MCL, Uday A Kaole, said during a media interaction here. Sambalpur (Odisha), Jun 28 (PTI) Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL) is going to start operation in two of its new mines having total coal reserve of 35 million tonnes (MT) in Talcher coalfield area of Odisha's Angul district, a senior company official said. At present, MCL is operating 18 coal mines in Angul, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda districts in Odisha of which three are underground mines and the remaining 15 are open-cast mines. Among the coal mines, the public sector company has seven operational mines in Angul district which include Jagannath, Bhubaneswari, Bharatpur, Hingula, Lingaraj, Kaniha and Talcher (UG). Now, the company is going to start exploration from Subhadra and Balabhadra mines, he said. To maintain transparency in its mining activities, MCL has installed CCTVs in 98 per cent of its operational areas while the remaining 2 per cent will be done soon, the CMD said, adding, 'We are also using artificial intelligence (AI) for real-time tracking of coal transportation vehicles which are GPS enabled.' He further said MCL has a reserve of about 35 MT of coal to ensure that there will be no crisis of coal for power generation. The company has produced 225 MT of coal during 2024-25 with a growth of 9 per cent compared to its previous financial year. The total coal dispatch was 210 MT, which also registered a growth of 6 per cent, he said. The CMD said that '98 per cent of our total coal production is being done through eco-friendly surface mines, which is highest in the country.' The coal-producing company has targeted to achieve net zero carbon emission by FY 29. It has planned to set up several renewable energy projects including solar, wind and pumped storage power plant projects in different parts of the state with an estimated investment of Rs 17,900 crore, another official of the company said. Further, the company has set a target to produce 239 million tonnes of coal in FY26, which is expected to reach 300 MT by the fiscal 2029-30, he said. PTI BBM BBM RG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Christopher Ewert botched weight cut scraps Jackson McVey fight at UFC 317, gets him cut
Ewert took fight on just a few days' notice when ankle monitor-wearing Sedriques Dumas was court-ordered to stay home. Certain curtain jerkers just aren't meant to be sometimes. The middleweight fight between Christopher Ewert and Jackson McVey that was set to open up UFC 317 on Saturday has been canceled. Ewert, who took the fight on just a few days' notice, was unable to get close enough to the weight and the bout was scrapped. Weigh-ins emcee Jon Anik announced the news at the start of the UFC 317 official weigh-ins session in Las Vegas – and also took the unusual additional step of announcing Ewert had been immediately cut from the UFC. Announcements of fight cancellations at weigh-ins don't typically come with news of the fighter at fault being released. Ewert (7-0), from Chile, had been on the UFC's radar for a while. He was supposed to fight on Dana White's Contender Series on Aug. 2 vs. Yuri Panferov, but took the UFC 317 spot instead when Dumas (10-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) pulled out earlier this week because he can't go 100 miles from his house while wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor. In retrospect, that looks like a bad call for Ewert – who apparently may have lost his DWCS opportunity for now, too. McVey (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was set to make his promotional debut. He never has seen the second round with six first-round finishes training under Mike Rogers at St. Charles MMA in Missouri.
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
22 bikes with advanced features inducted into Anantapur police patrol fleet
Superintendent of Police P. Jagadeesh on Friday inducted as many as 22 modern two-wheelers into their patrol fleet in a move to enhance the efficacy of mobility and response time. The SP inaugurated the vehicles at the District Police Office here by conducting a puja ceremony, attended by senior police officials from the Anantapur, Kadiri, and Tadipatri sub-divisons. Mr. Jagadeesh said that the new fleet was equipped with GPS tracking systems, sirens, night-vision lights, and public address systems. 'These features will aid the personnel on duty in traffic clearance, crowd control, and emergency response, particularly in congested and volatile areas,' he said. He highlighted that the two-wheelers would be deployed across the district, with a focus on municipal towns, to enforce traffic regulation, law enforcement, and public safety. Meanwhile, the SP distributed uniforms to about 50 personnel from the district special party and local petrol bunk staff as part of welfare initiatives.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Appalachian Trail hiker sends distress signal — then saves herself, officials say
A bleeding 67-year-old hiker on the Appalachian Trail sent an emergency signal after falling, then she took matters into her own hands. The British woman was 100 miles into the Appalachian Trail this year after hiking 1,700 miles of it last year, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief. At around 2:30 p.m. on June 25, rescuers said they got a distress signal from a Garmin GPS device on Rattle River Trail only a few miles from the border of Maine. Without cell service, the woman sent a message that she was 'all alone, had fallen and was bleeding,' according to rescuers. She was about 4.5 miles into the woods near Middle Moriah Mountain. A team of volunteers and conservation officers set out to her location, but about 90 minutes after the woman sent the distress beacon, the rescuers ran into her only half a mile from the main road, according to the wildlife department. Authorities called it a self-rescue. The London woman was bleeding from a 'significant laceration,' and the team helped get her to a waiting ambulance at the road and then onward to a hospital, according to rescuers. 'Her physical fitness and 'Can-do' attitude got her to treatment quickly and helped save rescuers from an arduous extraction out of the woods,' the team wrote.
