Latest news with #Sabar
Daily Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Days of these politicians are over
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 Text Size: Sabar committee posing with political leaders and representatives. Kota Kinabalu: Sabahans are fed up with politicians who make big promises during elections but forget about them once they get into power. That was the clear message from stakeholders at the recently held 'Sabah Voices to Action – Shaping Sabah's Future Together' final townhall initiative which presented a detailed wish list to political parties preparing for the coming state election. Among political parties present were Star Sabah, SAPP, PBS, Parti Impian Sabah, Warisan, Gagasan Rakyat, LDP and Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri. The wish list is not just any ordinary document. It is a thick 60-page report packed with 117 specific suggestions on how to fix Sabah's problems in schools, hospitals, roads and government services. The report was put together after three months of listening to ordinary Sabahans from all walks of life. Sabah Law Society's (SLS) Immediate Past President Datuk Roger Chin told politicians they need to stop treating their election promises like throwaway lines. 'If you are brave enough, put it in your manifesto and please do not do what happened in the past, which is by saying that your manifesto is not cast in stone, it is not the Bible and you do not have to comply with it. 'In today's day and age of the Internet, the public will hold you accountable,' he said, adding that today's voters will not stay quiet if politicians break their promises. The report comes from a citizen movement called Sabah Voices to Action organised by Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR) and other community groups. Over three months, they held talks in towns across Sabah including Kota Marudu, Keningau, Tawau and Sandakan, listening to what people really want. The report covers four main areas that affect daily life, namely education, healthcare, roads and infrastructure and how the government runs things. For schools, Sabahans want a separate Sabah Education Ministry that can hire teachers locally, buy school equipment without waiting for Federal approval and create lessons that teach children about Sabah's history and culture. They also want better support for rural schools and children without proper documents. For healthcare, people want a Sabah Health Ministry to have programmes specifically for the State's needs. This includes better pay and career opportunities for doctors and nurses, more medical services in rural areas, online consultations for remote patients and help with travel costs for people who need treatment far from home. Professional Architect cum Sabah Professional Council President Rizal Ahmad Banjar assured politicians that experts are ready to help turn these ideas into reality. 'By virtue of us here, we can provide that assistance. 'We have professionals here and we are ever ready to assist you, whoever is going to be in power,' he said. Institut Sinaran former Chief Executive Officer William Pan suggested starting small rather than trying to do everything at once. 'There are things which we can achieve on the short term and in the midterm and the long term. 'Even in education, there are spaces to start with. So, start with those spaces,' he said. Sabah Medical Association President cum former Sabah Health Director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi addressed politicians who might be worried about taking on technical issues like healthcare and education. 'In Sabah, we have got a lot of people who can help you. 'When you put it in your manifesto, it does not mean that you will be the one doing it. But you will be the one making sure that somebody is doing it. 'Whether you are from political parties or non-governmental organisations, we are all doing it for the people,' she said, pointing out that everyone is working toward the same goal. The report also tackles Sabah's infrastructure problems with a six-step plan for building and maintaining roads, bridges and buildings. This includes proper planning, fair bidding processes, releasing money on time and regular upkeep. For government services, Sabahans want major changes including laws to control political funding, open bidding for all government contracts that people can track online and independent bodies to oversee spending. They also want government-linked companies to hire based on merit rather than political connections. Sabar trustee Datuk Ujang Sulani wrapped up the event by reminding everyone that Sabah has been having these conversations for decades. '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 said. He connected the current push to the unfulfilled promises of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, saying it should mean true freedom not only from colonialism, but from dependency, bureaucracy and neglect. * 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
Daily Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Jeffrey, Yong tell of systemic challenges against change
Published on: Saturday, June 28, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 28, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey Text Size: Yong and Jeffrey. Kota Kinabalu: The final townhall hosted by Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (Sabar) saw rival political parties sitting together and actually agreeing on something, that it is time to listen to what Sabahans really want. Among those present were Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) President cum Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. He delivered perhaps the most stirring call for political unity, reflecting on his own experience of being arrested for advocating similar causes in the past. 'We are lucky that we have a body like Sabar. In those days when I started, when I tried to do this, I got arrested. So you are lucky, the situation has changed,' he said, congratulating the civil society organisation for creating space for citizen engagement. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Policy document wraps up session
Published on: Monday, June 23, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 23, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Zainie (centre) with Lim on his left and participants consisting of lawyers, local leaders and activists. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's civil society platform, Sabar (Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights) wrapped up town hall sessions under the 'Sabah Voices to Action' series with the message that the future lies in empowering youth and demanding accountability from politicians. It was the final of their eight engagements across Sabah which saw over 300 participants converge at Wisma Wanita, Sunday. Sabar Chairman Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa expressed pride in presenting a document of aspirations and actions derived from four months of listening to the people. He said the policy document will be submitted to all parties contesting the coming state election, in the expectation that the proposals would be adopted in their manifestos and more importantly, implemented after the polls. 'We don't want to see a repeat of past promises that were abandoned after elections. This initiative is about building a new political culture that instills responsibility and follows through,' he said. Looking ahead, Zainie revealed that Sabar would shift focus toward engaging young Sabahans in the next phase of their work. Advertisement 'We want to walk with the youth, shape their political mindset, and help them understand the importance of choosing leaders who keep their word. 'They must know how to pick representatives who genuinely deliver on their promises. That's how we build a better Sabah, one election at a time,' he said. He hoped the manifesto guide crafted from these town hall sessions would serve not just this election cycle, but for many to come. SAPP Women's Youth Wing Chief, Yvonne Yong Yit Phung, hailed the initiative as a much-needed departure from the typical political echo chamber, calling for more youth to step forward and help shape Sabah's future. Yvonne praised the organisers for encouraging proactive dialogue and engaging youth in meaningful policy discussions. 'The way questions were framed, how discussions were guided, it was very professional. It showed how much the youth care, and how much potential they have if given the platform,' she said. Vice President of Borneo History, Sahar Piasin, 65, welcomed the shift in focus at the final town hall, noting a refreshing change from previous events. 'Unlike before, which mostly centred around MA63, this time the emphasis was more on youth development through education, rural empowerment, and infrastructure. That made it very interesting,' he said. Sahar noted that speakers appeared to deliberately target students and young people, which, in turn, deserves the attention of Sabahan parents. 'They weren't just asking for opportunities, they were being spoken to directly about the future of their children. That made a real impact,' he added. Borneo History was invited to host an exhibition at the event, showcasing historical documents and treaties, some of which were made available for sale. * 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
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabar launches 117-point report from public consultations
Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 Text Size: Zainie and other leaders and stakeholders. KOTA KINABALU: More than 300 stakeholders gathered at Wisma Wanita for the final town hall of 'Sabah Voices to Action,' where Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (Sabar) officially launched a 60-page policy report outlining 117 public demands ahead of the 2025 Sabah state election. The report, compiled through a three-month consultation across Sabah, covers 21 areas including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and governance, and is accessible online in three languages. Sabar chairman Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa urged politicians to take the document seriously, calling it a grassroots effort that reflects the real concerns of Sabahans and a foundation for collaborative reform. Key proposals include the creation of Sabah-led education and health ministries, decentralised infrastructure planning, and sweeping reforms in governance, such as political financing laws and transparent tenders. The organisers emphasised that the report is a living, non-partisan document meant to guide inclusive policymaking, with Sabar calling on all parties to reflect its recommendations in their election manifestos. The Bahasa Malaysia, English, and Chinese versions of the report are now available for download here. * 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
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Jharkhand's Sabar tribe takes 'sweet step' towards self-reliance
Jamshedpur, The primitive Sabar tribe in Jharkhand has been dependent on honey collection from the forest for centuries, but now, with the help of a government scheme they have began a 'sweet revolution' by reaching their produce to more people with branding, packaging and marketing, officials said. The transformation began in Khokhro village in East Singhbhum's Boram block in September last year, when the Van Dhan Vikas Kendra was established under the PM-JANMAN scheme, they said. "Earlier, the Sabars used to collect around two tons of forest honey annually, but their hard work often went in vain due to a lack of proper marketing channels, price mechanisms, and storage facilities," a senior district official said. "Now, we are seeing a remarkable shift," he added. Traditionally dependent on non-timber forest produce like mahua, leaves, brooms, and honey, the Sabar community has moved from subsistence to a structured enterprise, officials said. They were given training in scientific honey collection, beekeeping, processing, and branding. Women were specifically trained in hygiene, filtration, and packaging processes. Thirty families were also provided with axes, baskets, funnels, gloves, helmets, and jars, officials said. "The main objective of the initiative is to economically empower Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups , including the Sabars," Boram's BDO Kiku Mahato told PTI. "We want to ensure that the women, who have already formed a self-help group, become fully self-reliant from honey production to packaging and marketing," he said. Mahato said that training is being provided by the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society . "We are also considering engaging a couple of local agencies to promote the Boram Honey brand," he said, adding that they may explore online platforms in the near future. "We do not rule out leveraging e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon to reach a wider market. The honey is pure and hygienic it deserves a good platform," he said. Deputy Commissioner Karn Satyarthi said the efforts will now be focused on finding a new and sustainable market, so that the producers get the right value for their products. He said areas like Boram also have the potential for other livelihood choices, and promised institutional support to enhance per capita income.
