Mandela distributing Jalur Gemilang and Sabah flags to a motorist at the ITCC Mall to mark the upcoming National Day and Sabah Day celebrations.
PENAMPANG: A Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leader firmly believes that Sabah has what it takes to turn its fortunes around and the historic declaration of Sabah Day could well mark the turning point in terms of Sabahans’ belief, mindset and commitment to the goal.
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Moyog Division Chief Ceasar Mandela Malakun believes it is not an impossible mission so long Sabahans stay united to the cause and there is genuine political stability.
“In the first two years, we have achieved many successes in terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). But we must continue to focus on making Sabah a high income and developed state.
“We don’t want to be second poorest state anymore,” he said after presenting state and national flags to the public at ITCC Mall here in conjunction with the month-long National Day and Sabah Day celebrations both of which fall on 31 August.
He observes that the declaration of Sabah Day has made Sabahans feel very proud of their own identity and history and the State Government tops this up by pushing their effort into making Sabah a prosperous state.
He is convinced that the GRS State Government, which has been working hard to solidify political stability and social unity in Sabah, has the track record to show that it can achieve the goal.
He said some of the significant milestones by the GRS State Government in relation to the MA63 involved securing bigger share of revenues from the oil and gas sector in the state and seeing SMJ Sdn Bhd, a company wholly owned by the State Government, being assigned AAA rating by RAM Ratings to raise RM10 billion worth of sukuk after the company was regarded as highly strategic to the State Government as the vehicle to champion the state’s oil and gas resources.
He also noted that the GRS State Government has managed to increase the state revenue to RM7 billion, the highest ever in Sabah’s history.
“And now, we’re going to celebrate Sabah Day, which Sabahans have been looking forward to for a very long time.
“All these (achievements related to the MA63) have been made possible by the GRS Government. We’ve entered a new and exciting chapter in our history. With good intentions and continuously working hard coupled with strategic planning, we can bring Sabah to become a developed state.
“Our trajectory in the next five to 10 years is to take Sabah out from the bottom two and aim to be among the top three (states in the country). We are always mindful that we need to manage the state properly,” said Mandela.
He stressed the need to maintain political stability in the state as a fundamental condition toward becoming a high income and prosperous state.
But he admits that it has not been an easy task because Sabah is one of the states in the country that has the highest number of political parties.
“Nonetheless, GRS will continue to unite all the local parties together to find a common ground. At the end of the day, we understand that everybody has the heart and purpose to help Sabah,” he said.
In relation to this, Mandela said he was saddened by the opposition Parti Warisan’s political game that could disrupt political stability that the GRS has worked so hard to build.
“Earlier this week, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor made an historic declaration that Sabah Day would be celebrated, starting this year, to commemorate the day Sabah became an independent nation 60 years ago. The announcement, naturally, was met with cheers and applause from many proud Sabahans who longed for a day that would symbolise our unique heritage.
“Unfortunately where there should have been unity, Warisan chose discord. The party’s Supreme Council Member and Tungku Assemblyman Assafal P Alian put out a statement on Thursday questioning Sabah’s independence status.
“So far though, his challenge has not proven to represent widespread confusion or discontent in Sabah; it’s merely an isolated attempt to sow discord during a time that should have brought us together,” he said.
He suggested that Assafal’s stance on Sabah’s status appears to be an attempt to capitalise on specific interpretations of history.
“He seems to overlook that commemorating Sabah Day transcends legal or historical technicalities. It’s a symbol of pride, unity and identity for Sabahans, reflecting a shared aspiration that connects us all.
“Our historical context, including Sabah’s Self-Government Day on 31st August 1963, tells a rich story of our evolution, decisions and growth within the Federation of Malaysia. To fixate on the semantics of “independence” vs. “self-government” is to divert from our collective aspiration and shared pride. Don’t Warisan members also feel proud to be Sabahans?
“On the other hand, the GRS’ stance on this issue reflects a commitment to unity and respect for Sabah’s unique history within the Malaysian federation. This includes acknowledgment of the MA63, a foundational document that guides our roles and relationship within the Federation of Malaysia,” he said.
Mandela said Assafal’s proposal for a motion on Sabah’s independence seems a disingenuous attempt to spark unnecessary divisions and misconceptions.
“Rather than quarrelling over terminology, our focus should remain on unity, collaboration and socio-economic growth. These principles must guide our way forward.
“The Tungku Assemblyman’s questions about Sabah’s independence miss the broader point. It seems more a political gambit than a true reflection of Sabah’s desires. We are not celebrating severing ties; we are honouring Sabah’s unique identity, history and autonomy within Malaysia. His assertions may resonate with a few, but they do not align with the prevailing sentiments of unity and pride within Sabah.
“Maybe it’s to remind Assafal and his Warisan colleagues that Sabah Day is not merely a footnote in our long history. It is a symbol of pride and unity. We must embrace this day, not as a source of division but as a beacon of our shared heritage.
“I understand that it is the role of the Opposition to question the Government’s action and decisions, but the opposition can also play their democratic role of supporting the government of the day, in this case, the GRS Government. After going throughout Sabah shouting Unity, Unity, it is ironic that Warisan finds it helpful for their campaign to cause divisiveness when the real goal of Sabah Day is unity. Do they always view things through their skewed political lenses, I wonder? Or is it only their brand of ‘Unity’ should be accepted?” asked Mandela.
He urged Warisan to learn to replace the culture of pointless argument with a culture of understanding and collaboration for the sake of Sabah.
“For just one day, Warisan, let us celebrate our unique identity within the Malaysian federation, working together for a harmonious and prosperous future. Let’s build bridges, not barriers, and make Sabah Day a testament to our shared commitment to unity, diversity, and progress.
“In the spirit of Sabah, let us move forward together, embracing our shared history and looking towards a future where every Sabahan stands united, proud of our heritage and confident in our future within the Federation of Malaysia,” he said.
