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Borneo Post
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Robert Tawik also denies involvement in mining scandal
Robert Tawik KOTA KINABALU (July 1): Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Robert Tawik has denied allegations linking him to applications for mineral exploration licenses or receiving any funds related to such activities. The Assistant Minister of State Public Works described the accusations as politically motivated slander ahead of the approaching State Election. He stated that he has never been involved in any mining license applications or received any form of funding related to such activities. 'These allegations are baseless and malicious. They are desperate attempts to tarnish my image and damage the reputation of the state government,' he said in a statement on Tuesday. Robert affirmed his full cooperation with the authorities if required. 'As a leader, I remain committed and focused on fulfilling my responsibilities to the people. I will not be swayed or distracted by these unethical political attacks,' he emphasized. He also urged all parties to refrain from using slander as a political tool and instead engage in mature and responsible politics for the greater good of Sabah. STAR Sabah president and Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan as well as Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Sri Panglima Jahid Jahim have also denied allegations linking them to the bribery scandal. The allegations were published by Malaysiakini in an article dated June 28, 2025, titled 'Lagi Kejutan Sabah: Skandal pelombongan selubungi STAR, pemimpin tertinggi PBS'. Besides Jeffrey, Jahid and Robert, the news portal claimed that three other leaders were also involved in the scandal. Meanwhile, Robert has stressed the need for responsible discourse and unity in addressing Sabah's development challenges. Responding to recent statement by Sabah Umno vice youth chief Bobby Balang, he said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Panglima Hajiji Haji Noor's call for the public to exercise wisdom when navigating unverified claims on social media was a timely reminder in the digital age. 'The Chief Minister never questioned the intelligence of Sabahans. On the contrary, he urged for discernment – especially when misinformation can spread rapidly online and damage reputations without evidence,' her said. Robert said the government welcomes public scrutiny and is committed to transparency and good governance. 'Let's be clear – there is no room in this administration for corruption to be swept under the carpet. GRS remains steadfast in strengthening institutional integrity and taking action when wrongdoing is proven,' he said. He acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in infrastructure and utility services, but said the current state leadership has taken proactive steps to address long-standing issues that were inherited from previous administrations. 'Development is not a cover for corruption. It is our mission. Real progress requires both infrastructure improvements and public trust – and that is what we are working hard to earn,' he added. Robert urged for constructive engagement from all political players, particularly those in the unity government at the federal level. 'It's easy to criticise from the sidelines, but Sabahans deserve solutions, not just soundbites. We call on all parties to work together for the people's benefit – that is true leadership.'
Borneo Post
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Groups present 117-policy roadmap ahead of state elections
Representatives from SABAR presenting a copy of the 'Sabahans' Aspirations and Demands' to representatives from STAR Sabah, SAPP, PBS, Parti Impian Sabah, Warisan, PGRS, LDP and Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri. KOTA KINABALU (June 23): In a powerful display of civic engagement and participatory policymaking, more than 300 stakeholders gathered at Wisma Wanita for the final town hall of the 'Sabah Voices to Action – Shaping Sabah's Future Together' initiative. The event marked the official launch of the 'Sabahans' Aspirations and Demands' report — an unprecedented 60 plus pages of policy document outlining 117 actionable recommendations across 21 key areas in Education, Healthcare, Public Infrastructure and Good Governance. Compiled through a three-month consultative process involving diverse communities across the state, the report is now publicly accessible in Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese at Launched in January and formally executed between March and June 2025, this non-partisan, citizen-driven movement — spearheaded by the Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR) in collaboration with civil society partners — was designed to empower ordinary Sabahans to voice their priorities and shape meaningful policy reforms in the lead-up to the 2025 Sabah State Election. The initiative employed a multi-platform strategy to reach a broad spectrum of Sabahans through eight widely streamed podcast episodes, more than 30 published articles in a local daily, and 12 regional town halls in districts such as Kota Marudu, Keningau, Tawau, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu. Over 500 individuals — including professionals, educators, healthcare workers, youth, and civil society leaders — participated in the formulation of the report. In his opening remarks, Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa, chairman of the Board of SABAR, emphasized that the document reflects the aspirations and concerns of everyday Sabahans, gathered through a genuine grassroots engagement process. While acknowledging that it may not represent every voice, he asserted that it serves as a powerful foundation for further inquiry, dialogue and collaborative action. 'This is not a final blueprint,' he said, 'but a compelling starting point.' He extended a sincere appeal to political leaders across the spectrum: 'Please listen with open hearts. The voices you hear today are not partisan — they represent the shared hopes of a people who deeply love this state and want to see it flourish. This is an opportunity to demonstrate real commitment to participatory governance and people-centred leadership. I urge you to reflect these priorities meaningfully in your election manifestos.' He continued by acknowledging the roots of Sabah's challenges, stating, 'We must understand that the problems we face today did not arise overnight. They are the result of decades of accumulated neglect, flawed policies and missed opportunities. Now is not the time for finger-pointing. It is time to set politics aside and embrace shared responsibility. We are not here to complain; we are here to build and be part of the solution.' Zainie concluded with a call for courage and collective action, reminding the audience that what matters most is a willingness to act — decisively and responsibly — for the future of Sabah's next generation. Among the report's major recommendations is the call to establish a Sabah Ministry of Education with autonomy over procurement of infrastructure and educational resources, teacher recruitment and training, curriculum development and assessment. It advocates for universal access to quality preschool education, targeted support for rural and undocumented students, strategic actions on STEM and TVET, and greater bilingual proficiency through the Dual Language Programme. The document stresses the importance of including Sabah-centric content in the national curriculum and ensuring that teachers are locally recruited, equipped with innovative teaching methods and digital tools, and protected from excessive administrative workloads. In the area of healthcare, the report proposes the establishment of a Sabah Ministry of Health to design and implement state-specific programs, complementing federal initiatives. It calls for improved welfare, incentives and clear career progression for healthcare workers, expanded health services to rural and underserved communities, introduction of technology such as telehealth, and travel assistance for patients needing treatment outside their districts. The report also recommends increased training opportunities for post-basic, allied health sciences and specialist development to address Sabah's unique healthcare challenges more effectively. On public infrastructure, the report introduces a six-stage development cycle encompassing inclusive needs assessment, integrated planning, transparent procurement, sufficient and timely disbursement of funds, accompanied by efficient implementation, regular maintenance and proactive rehabilitation. It calls for a Sabah Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, centralized project management, digital procurement platforms and independent oversight mechanisms. To ensure sustainability and relevance, it emphasizes the importance of involving local contractors and communities in both planning and implementation. Emergency preparedness, climate resilience and long-term planning are also identified as critical components of effective infrastructure development. In the area of good governance, the report recommends wide-ranging structural reforms. These include the enactment of Political Financing and Procurement Acts, mandatory open tenders with real-time public tracking, and the establishment of independent procurement and audit commissions. It urges the depoliticization of appointments in government-linked companies (GLCs) and public service, standardization of asset declarations and key performance indicators, and decentralization of fiscal and development planning powers under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). A macro-level governance framework is proposed to restore public trust and improve accountability in the management of GLCs and public resources. Lim Hock Song, organising chairperson of the initiative, reiterated the non-partisan nature of the movement. 'This is about people. It's about the wellbeing of Sabahans and the future we want to build together,' he declared. He emphasized that the report, once released, would take on a life of its own — as the collective intellectual property of the people of Sabah and an open-source resource for all. 'It is not a final blueprint, but a living document. We hope Sabahans will embrace it as a shared starting point, from which we can build together toward a brighter future for every community across our state.' Delivering a stirring closing remark, SABAR trustee Datuk Ujang Sulani placed the initiative within Sabah's long journey toward self-determination. 'Sabah has always been rich — not only in resources, but in spirit. But prosperity remains elusive. We must go beyond dialogue. This is no longer about being heard. It is time for us to be heeded,' he declared. Referring to the unfulfilled promises of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, he added, 'That agreement must translate into true freedom — not only from colonialism, but from dependency, bureaucracy and neglect.' Ujang concluded by urging all present to treat this final town hall not as an ending, but as a beginning. SABAR urges all political parties and candidates contesting the 2025 Sabah State Election to give thoughtful consideration to these aspirations and demands, and to reflect them clearly and meaningfully in their upcoming election manifestos. The full 'Sabahans' Aspirations and Demands' report is now available at
Borneo Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Nurul Izzah's 13-seat demand disregards local autonomy - STAR Sabah
Anuar KOTA KINABALU (May 26): Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR Sabah) has expressed strong objections to recent remarks made by PKR Deputy President Nurul Izzah Anwar, who announced her party's intention to contest at least 13 seats in the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17). STAR Sabah views this move as a direct challenge to the political autonomy of Sabah said its information chief, Anuar Ghani. He said the demand for 13 seats by a Peninsular-based party implies a continued perception of Sabah as a political colony, rather than an equal partner in the Malaysian Federation. This undermines the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which affirms Sabah's right to determine its own political direction. According to Anuar, Sabah is not a testing ground for outside political machinery. The party further criticizes Nurul Izzah's statement regarding the deployment of campaign teams from Selangor, Johor and Penang to Sabah, calling it intrusive and disrespectful to local sentiments. 'Sabah is not a political laboratory for Peninsular parties,' said Anuar. 'Sending in outside machinery shows a lack of sensitivity and reinforces the perception that national parties continue to undermine local leadership.' STAR Sabah also questioned the basis for PKR's seats claim, noting that the party previously won only two out of the 10 seats it contested in the last Sabah State election. 'To now demand 13 seats despite such a record reflects not only overreach but a lack of understanding of Sabah's evolving political landscape,' Anuar added. Some Sabahans say, 'Big ambition, Tamaha juga!' The party stressed that PRN17 is a state election, not a general election, and that priority must be given to Sabah-based parties who have long worked at the grassroots level, understood local issues, and maintained consistent engagement with the people. STAR Sabah reaffirms the principle of Borneonisation – enshrined in the 1962 Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report and the MA63 – as a guiding doctrine for Sabah's governance. 'The right to self-govern, especially in public administration, must logically extend to the political realm. Sabahans have the right to reject external political dominance and chart their own course' said Anuar. STAR Sabah challenged PKR to name the specific 13 seats they intend to contest. 'Are they targeting seats currently held by local parties? Sabahans deserve transparency. We must know whether these demands will come at the expense of local political strength' Anuar concluded. STAR Sabah urges all Sabahans to stand united and support local parties that are committed to protecting Sabah's rights, identity, and future within the Federation of Malaysia. The division and disunity at PKR national level politics is viewed with grave concern by the people of Sabah.
