Latest news with #ShafieApdal
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- 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.
Daily Express
19-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Shafie denies RM178 million loan write-off claims
Published on: Thursday, June 19, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jun 19, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Warisan president Shafie Apdal said that as chief minister at the time, he was not involved in the bank's day-to-day decisions or specific loan arrangements. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: Warisan president Shafie Apdal has denied allegations linking him to the write-off of RM178 million in non-performing loans (NPLs) during his tenure as Sabah chief minister and chairman of the Sabah Development Bank (SDB). Responding to the claims circulating online, Shafie said no NPL was written off under his watch and that all financial decisions at the bank were subject to internal processes and credit evaluation protocols. Advertisement 'I categorically deny the malicious and baseless allegations that have been circulated by an online portal,' he said in a statement today. 'These accusations are outright lies that have been manufactured with the intent to deceive the public and destroy my credibility.' Shafie said that as chief minister, he was not involved in the bank's day-to-day decisions or specific loan arrangements, adding that public institutions must be governed by professional processes and not political interference. 'I respected those boundaries and I expected the bank's management to uphold their fiduciary duty to the people of Sabah,' he said. Shafie, who served as chief minister from 2018 to 2020, said that rather than write off loans, his administration focused on recovering problematic debts and restoring financial integrity. 'Writing off NPLs recklessly would have been irresponsible and a betrayal of public trust,' he added. The Senaling assemblyman also questioned the timing of the allegations, saying it coincided with declining public confidence in the current administration ahead of the state election. 'This is a deliberate political smear that has been precisely timed because the current government is struggling. They are afraid of accountability and fear the coming election,' he said. Shafie also warned that he would not hesitate to take legal action against those who continue to publish and spread what he described as lies. 'I have nothing to hide and welcome any impartial investigation. However, I will not remain silent while lies are repeated and recycled for political convenience,' 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
Free Malaysia Today
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Defect and face RM10mil suit, Warisan's election hopefuls warned
Warisan president Shafie Apdal said over 65% of the party's candidates for the upcoming Sabah polls will comprise younger candidates. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Warisan plans to file a RM10 million suit against any of its assemblymen who hop parties after winning seats under the party's banner in the upcoming Sabah state election. Party president Shafie Apdal said Warisan's candidates would be made to sign a moral and legal agreement to state their loyalty and commitment to the party until the end of their term, if elected. 'I have prepared a preventive measure. If any candidate who wins on a Warisan ticket leaves the party, we will take them to court and sue them for RM10 million. 'Every candidate nominated must understand and agree to this condition (in order to be fielded as a Warisan candidate),' he said, according to Sinar Harian. Shafie said there was a need for such a proactive measure despite the enactment of Sabah's anti-hopping legislation, as party hopping has often threatened the Bornean state's political stability. The former chief minister added that many had expressed interest to contest in the state polls representing Warisan, but said over 65% of the party's candidates would comprise younger candidates. In 2023, Warisan had said they would file a compensation claim against 11 assemblymen who defected from the party to back the ruling state government. The 11 who quit Warisan after the 2020 state polls are Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Hassan A Gani Pg Amir (Sebatik), Peter Anthony (Melalap), Juil Nuatim (Limbahau), Mohamaddin Ketapi (Segama), Rina Jainal (Kukusan), Norazlinah Arif (Kunak), Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi), Chong Chen Bin (Tanjong Kapor), Awang Ahmad Sah Sahari (Petagas) and Hiew Vun Zin (Karamunting).
Malay Mail
14-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Warisan chief slams Sabah govt's ‘record' RM6.4b budget, warns of financial risk tied to oil prices
KOTA KINABALU, May 14 — Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has raised concerns over the Sabah state government's financial planning for 2025, questioning its record budget which he said was built on 'unstable assumptions' of global oil prices. The Senallang state assemblyman accused the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government of continuing to make grand announcements and bold promises while ordinary Sabahans see little to no improvement in their daily lives. 'The Sabah government is boasting about its largest-ever state budget of RM6.4 billion for 2025, but this so-called achievement is built on unstable assumptions. 'More than 40 per cent of the revenue is expected to come from oil and gas, based on the GRS government's optimistic forecast of US$76 (RM326) per barrel, but the current oil price hovers around US$60,' he said. Shafie said that Sabah could lose hundreds of millions in revenue if prices stay that low, which is enough to wipe out the projected RM24 million surplus and push the state budget into a deficit. 'What is GRS' plan if prices remain low? What is their contingency strategy to ensure there is development funding for schools, clinics and roads in the rural areas?' he asked. Shafie also criticised the state government's handling of poverty, unemployment and infrastructure challenges, noting that despite the 'record budget,' Sabah remains the poorest state in Malaysia, with eight out of the ten poorest districts located in the state. 'Our budget is twice that of Selangor and six times more than Penang. So where is the money going? Why hasn't it helped lift us out of poverty?' he asked. 'Even more alarming is the unemployment rate of 7.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2024 which is the highest in Malaysia according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. This means over 170,000 Sabahans are jobless, an increase from 7.5 per cent in 2023. He said that if the economy is really growing as claimed, there wouldn't be so many people still struggling to find jobs while those who are employed are trapped with low-paying wages. 'Half of Sabah's workers earn less than RM2,000 a month. In Q1 2023, the median wage was RM1,864. A year later, it increased by just RM18 while food prices in Sabah remain the highest in the country,' he said. Shafie also cited concerns over child health and malnutrition. 'Our children are suffering too. One in four Sabahan children under the age of five is stunted. This is the highest stunting rate in Malaysia and it reflects a deeper failure in nutrition, rural healthcare and education. The GRS government has failed to plan for the next generation,' he said. He said that much of the problem lies in the state's corrupt practices where the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has repeatedly reported misuse of funds and false claims especially in the state's education system. 'GRS has done little to fix the system or hold those in power accountable. 'Many teachers are afraid to speak up about wrongdoing because they fear being punished or losing their jobs. This shows a broken system that punishes honesty instead of protecting it,' he said. He also criticised lavish spending on grand launching events, ribbon cuttings and announcements for appearance' sake. 'Millions are wasted on tents, souvenirs, lucky draws and entertainment just to attract large crowds in order to appear popular. Why spend millions on publicity stunts, glossy signboards and social media videos while our roads collapse, our electricity fails and our people struggle with the rising cost of living?' 'This is not progress. This is failure in planning, failure in delivery and failure in leadership. Sabahans cannot continue to pay the price for a government that cares more about slogans and image than the plight of the people,' he said.
The Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabah's unemployment remains high as economic recovery lags
Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal holds up charts comparing Sabah's economic performance under Warisan and GRS during a press conference in Kolombong. KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's unemployment figures remain worryingly high, with 165,600 people still out of work in 2023, according to data from Warisan — a staggering increase from 114,300 in 2019. Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said this sharp rise in joblessness reflects a troubling reality for many young Sabahans, who continue to leave the state for better opportunities in places like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Hong Kong. 'This is a serious issue. We need to create jobs within Sabah so our people do not have to migrate for work. If we do not address this, we risk losing our talent,' he said at a press conference in Kolombong, here, Wednesday (May 7). Shafie also pointed to the need for more investment in downstream industries to drive economic growth and create sustainable jobs, noting that Sabah's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has struggled to recover. The state's GDP stood at RM83.2bil in 2023, still below its 2019 peak of RM85.6bil, marking a decline of RM2.4bil or 3% over four years. He cited the missed opportunity involving IKEA as a prime example of Sabah's struggle to attract major investments. Despite Sabah's rich timber resources, IKEA ultimately chose Sarawak over Sabah for its investment, raising concerns about the state's ability to support value-added industries. 'For instance, we produce cocoa, but where are the chocolate factories? Why are we just exporting raw materials? We need to add value locally to create jobs and strengthen our economy,' Shafie said. Shafie also took the opportunity to introduce Warisan's new slogan, 'Save Sabah' (Selamatkan Sabah), which he said captures the party's mission to address the state's critical issues, including unemployment, economic decline, and infrastructure gaps. 'Save Sabah from no basic infrastructure. Save Sabah from rising unemployment. Save Sabah from being left behind in terms of economic growth and development,' he said. He urged the people of Sabah to give Warisan a chance in the upcoming election, assuring them that the party can resolve the state's basic necessities challenges and build a stronger, more resilient Sabah. 'We are capable of solving our problems. We do not need to keep relying on others. We can manage our resources and address our challenges if given the chance,' Shafie said. The persistently high unemployment and sluggish GDP recovery also reflect broader challenges, including gaps in infrastructure, high logistics costs, and a lack of skilled labour, which must be addressed for sustainable growth.
