NOV 29 CRITICAL FOR SABAH, MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE!

KOTA KINABALU: A new state government should be formed by the end of next month or early December.

The State Legislative Assembly has been dissolved and the Election Commission (EC) has set November 15 for nomination and November 29 for polling.

A fierce battle is on the cards. The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and its alliance Pakatan Harapan (PH) which ruled Sabah from 2020 till 2025, will be challenged by many political parties – all determined to succeed in the polls to take over control of the state.

The top contenders appear to be Sabah BN which once dominated Sabah politics for three decades and Warisan which held power for two years until 2020.

Again after five years, Sabahans must decide who should govern the state for another half a decade.

“Surely they will vote for political stability, progress and a secure future for them and their children,” says book author Datuk Dr Janathan Kandok.

He cautions that if they make the wrong choice, it cannot be undone for the next five years.

In order to make an informed decision in a democratic election, he urges voters to assess the policies and track record of the administration headed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor over the past five years.

“It has been nothing short of remarkable. The rise in Sabah’s GDP to RM84.3 billion in 2024 and almost RM7 billion in revenues for three consecutive years (2022, 2023 and 2024) speaks volumes of the GRS-led government’s capabilities in managing the state,” says Dr Janathan who is also the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) Tandek chief.

And, he also describes the pledge by an opposition party that it will dissolve Sabah’s water woes in one year if it comes to power, as a desperate bid to garner support at the election.

He points out that legacy issues, among them, water and electricity shortages, were inherited by the Hajiji administration.

“It is already public knowledge that a number of initiatives had been carried out to bring about short and long-term solutions,”Dr Janathan says.

And to ensure long-term water and electricity availability, the GRS-led administration had launched the multi-billion ringgit 187.5MW Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project (UPHEP) which is scheduled for completion by end of 2030.

The UPHEP is capable of generating an average of 1,052 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean energy annually, hence increasing Sabah’s current dependable capacity by some 15 per cent.

It willl also double the renewable energy (RE) mix, supporting the state’s goal of achieving approximately 35% RE share in its generation mix by 2035.

Ensuring stability and economic progress as well as safeguarding the people’s wellbeing, Dr Janathan stresses, had been an elemental cornerstone of the Hajiji government policy.

“To my fellow Sabahans, the ball is now in your court – do the right thing. Vote for stability, growth and harmony. And I know you will decide with care,” he adds.

Dr Janathan meanwhile also says the inescapable fact is that the GRS-led government had in the last five years proven its capabilities and possessed a genuine commitment to bring Sabah to greater heights.

GRS-PH leaders, he stresses, never “sat on their hands”” when there were problems and urgent issues to be dealt with.

To date, the GRS comprises six political parties following the departure of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP).

These six parties are PGRS, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah.

Credit: Jesselton Times