TODAY, I would like to discuss the responsibilities of a Sabah minister and critique politicians who only engage in performative politics. As ministers in Sabah, their duties are not limited to superficial tasks, but rather they bear greater responsibility in striving for the development of Sabah and the rights of its people.
When I was younger, I didn’t fully understand these concepts, but as I gradually became involved in society, I realised the importance of Sabah’s administrative structure to each of us.
Sabah, as a "state" (some say “territory” or “wilayah”), fundamentally differs from the states of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia). In Sabah, we have our own cabinet and ministers, unlike the states in Peninsular Malaysia, which only have executive councillors (or EXCO, who can be understood as coordinators for federal ministries). This gives our government greater responsibility and power.
The responsibilities and powers of a Sabah minister should be on par with that of a federal minister, including policy formulation, defending our sovereignty, protecting our territories, ensuring fair resource allocation, and promoting economic development. They should not be focusing solely on daily tasks such as cleaning drains or distributing supplies, which should be handled by lower-rank civil servants. A true minister should focus on the core issues facing Sabah — sovereignty, land, territorial waters, resource management, diplomacy, etc., and take practical action to address these concerns.
A minister’s role is to plan, decide, and guide, while collaboration with grassroots officials and various departments should be their main area of work. For example, tasks like attracting investments and implementing collaborations should be handled by department officials, not the ministers themselves. Should the minister personally handle these matters, what would then become of the professional capabilities of the department officials? Are they only expected to serve tea, sweep the floor, and do menial tasks?
For instance, Sabah is entitled to 40% share of federal revenue, derived from Sabah, a right granted by the constitution and a matter of dignity for us as a "state." Yet, this issue remains unresolved, with the Sabah Law Society (SLS) stepping forward to fight for our rights, while the Sabah ministers have failed to take substantial action.
Additionally, Sabah’s territorial waters were restricted to just three nautical miles under the amended Territorial Sea Act 2012, which has had a severe impact on our territorial sovereignty and the development of marine resources. The movement to overturn this act is being led by another non-governmental organisation — Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR).
The reality is that some ministers dedicate their time and energy to formalistic activities such as taking photos, posting on social media, and cutting ribbons, which seem like busy performative politics. These activities give the impression of being busy and efficient, but they do nothing to address real issues. This behaviour raises doubts about whether they truly understand the challenges facing the people of Sabah.
Of course, we cannot blame the ministers entirely, as they are the leaders we elected. Elections are the process through which we grant them power, and if we choose the wrong leaders, we must also bear part of the responsibility.
Therefore, we must be more discerning in choosing leaders who are capable, visionary, and genuinely dedicated to the future of Sabah, rather than those who only engage in superficial politics.
More importantly, Sabah should be led by local parties because local parties better understand the real situation in Sabah, with the foundation that aligns with the state’s administrative structure, enabling them to formulate policies that suit Sabah’s development.
Parties from Peninsular Malaysia embrace governance models and political ideologies that are disconnected from Sabah's realities. In particular, the model of "relying solely on the federal government" may undermine the power that the Sabah government should rightfully possess.
Undeniably, some leaders from Peninsular Malaysia are very motivated, but their efforts do not align with our needs, and in fact, these very efforts are going to result in Sabah losing its sovereignty.
Let us work together to select leaders who are truly capable, responsible, and committed to creating a brighter future for Sabah.