The future of a prosperous Sabah

As Sabahans our duty is to send UMNO back to where they came from. We must put a stop to UMNO syphoning off all our natural resources and leaving us to bask in poverty.

It is high time Sabahans realize the dilemma we are in by allowing UMNO to set foot in Sabah. UMNO is not useful to Sabah. What did Sabah get from them? Poverty!

After being enticed to form a federation, Sabah on 16th September 1963 together with Sarawak and Singapore join Malaya to form what is known as the “Federation of Malaysia.” However, soon after Singapore left the federation, Malaya under UMNO started to wield its control on Sabah and Sarawak.

UMNO took advantage of Sabah’s weak government at the time and thus instigated the interference and exploitation into Sabah’s political infrastructure. Despite the agreement known as 20 points, Sabah was never treated by UMNO as an equal partner in the Federation. UMNO Malaya under former Prime Minister Mahathir made a concerted effort to wrest control of the Sabah government; in which they were successful by engineering a political power grab in Sabah through a scheme widely known as “divide-and-rule” tactic and the mass issuance of citizenship cards commonly known as “Project IC”. Since then Sabah has regressed economically to the point where today Sabah has been identified and referred by World BanK MEM to be the poorest state in Malaysia.

Soon after Donald Stephen passed away, Harris Salleh signed off Sabah’s oil rights to Petronas for a mere 5% royalty fee. That effectively took a big chunk of our people’s wealth and transferred it to Malaya. UMNO grab our money making resources and left us with mere crumbs. Is there justification for them to be in Sabah?

The answer is NO.

The right solution for this historic time for Sabah is to look within our boundaries and not jump across the South China Sea. Just like UMNO the peninsular based parties view their self-interest vastly different from ours. We must be confident that our own Sabahan party having the capability to be a better guardian for us.

By supporting the peninsular based parties we are basically appeasing and accepting defeat. Do we truly believe that our own children do not have the talent to lead our country to a better place? There is “nothing to fear but fear itself.” We must not use fear as an excuse to vote for a peninsular based party when we have a good party right here in Sabah. Sabah was on a pathway to glory and prosperity before the peninsular based party interfered into our political infrastructure. It is because of outside interference that has gotten us into this mess. Sabahans today are poise to take us to greater heights. Discard you bias and give Sabah a chance to prove itself!

To address this great injustice to Sabah, Sabahans need a new thinking and leadership. Today, this leadership is provided by SAPP. It is time Sabahans unite under SAPP to fight for Sabah’s rights to redress the injustice done to Sabah. United we stand the stronger we land! SAPP will lead Sabah out from its poverty trap and leap into the 21st century economic development for a harmonious and prosperous society.

SAPP will be a “government of the people, by the people and for the people.” For too long we were guided along racial and religious dogmas rather than the marketplace. Our politics was inspired by destruction rather than construction. Coercion and pacification was the order of the day. We were victims of UMNO’s “divide-and-rule” policy and the so-called “Project IC”. It is time for Sabahans to do away with this policy and be united to work hard to making Sabah to becoming the richest State in the Federation once again by being the government of the people, by the people and for the people of Sabah in their pursuit of happiness.

SAPP believes in the harmonious and prosperous development of all people irrespective of race, religion and social status. And it will strive to develop Sabah’s human resources continuously to meet the demands and challenges of the various sectors of the economy. SAPP will pursue a pathway of excellence and meritocracy in its governance based on its multi-racial principles. SAPP will ensure a win-win policy in its governance.

Instead of welcoming our diverse heritage UMNO seek to turn our beautiful cultures into their narrow definition of being Malay. Instead of appreciating and utilizing the valuable gifts and talents that emanates for the various cultures they attempt to limit our freedom by forcing our views to conform to their narrow purview of a Malayan utopia. Is there any wonder why we are the poorest among Malaysians? It is because of Malaya that our economy is in such a jumble and our people in such a disgrace.

As far as Sabahans are concern we appreciate our diverse cultures and background. We respect all religion and we can live happily and harmoniously with such diversity. There is no humanitarian benefit to force anyone to change their color. Each individual human being is endowed by their creator a unique and beautiful DNA therefore no entity or government should decide what color man should be for the air we breathe is as unique as our individual relationship to that Creator we worship. When it comes time for salvation God only looks at the individual heart and nothing else.

It is a win-win situation for all because a SAPP government guarantees that all legitimate religions are treated equally with respect. Coercion and intimidation based on religious tenets will no longer be tolerated. All races are treated equally and fairly. SAPP will pass laws that guarantee equality for all.

A SAPP government will create a new economic policy that put people first. A SAPP government will employ a common sense approach to creating economic policies for Sabah. In essence, the SAPP government will do the right thing for the people of Sabah hence a true “foundation for a sustainable economy” will emerge that will lead to a prosperous Sabah.

SAPP guarantees a government that is truly based on meritocracy. Because SAPP practice true multi-racial principles; all races will be treated equally. Because of good governance and the pursue of a true multi-racial agenda, a SAPP government will never experience a brain drain problem because intelligent men and women are attracted to work in a place where talents are truly respected and appreciated.

With true meritocracy everyone has an opportunity to achieve their dreams. It will generate a new culture that will enhance professionalism and deter corruption. Only with these elite ideological foundations can we truly stop the uncontrollable scourge of corruption in our society. When corruption is manageable within the scope of the law, the people win and prosperity is guaranteed.

Unlike the others, SAPP is a forward looking political party as implied by its name “Sabah Progressive Party.” SAPP will move Sabah from the pits of poverty to new heights of prosperity. And here is why and how: Its leaders are movers and shakers, young visionaries, vibrant, energetic and intelligent. They are educated and professional. They are dedicated and hard-working. Its’ top leadership is a man of integrity and vast experienced and care deeply for the development of Sabah in the Federation.

As to how - SAPP will invest in the people by creating a professional organization solely as a library of effective economic resource and an opportunity consultant for the people and businesses to benefit from. The SAPP government will monitor the marketplace to ensure the progression of a level playing field for all healthy organizations to compete and flourish. It will be like planting a flower nurturing it daily and watching it grow and bloom.

Sabahans can look forward to a bright future when SAPP takes the helm of government. No longer do we have to worry which race will get ahead because all races will get ahead. All will be winners!
You can plan for your future without fear. You can expect to become richer because SAPP is about making the people richer and healthier.

To those skeptics that say this is an unrealistic and unattainable dream, I respectfully beg to differ. On the contrary this is very much a practical and manageable proposal. It is in fact easily achievable when the right talents are employed; for although all men are created equal, no talents are created equally.

SAPP will invest in education as has never been seen before in the history of Sabah because SAPP understand the value of education. The future of our children depends on their level of education and in line with SAPP’s “people first” policy SAPP will ensure education is among the top priorities.

SAPP aims to put in place a “system of social organization that will encouraged constant innovation, inspires individual initiative, and ensure the efficient allocation of resources” so as to create a strong foundation for a sustainable economy for all Sabahans and a legacy for the next generation to be proud of.

Why SAPP and not the other party: Because the other party has not shown us what it can do, while SAPP during the last four years have been working hard day and night proving to the people what it has done and what it can do when in government. SAPP have not just talked the talk rather it has sincerely walked the talk! SAPP is the good guys and SAPP is the best political solution for Sabah.

Many of what SAPP have accomplished can be found by going to www.SAPP.ORG.MY. No matter what others have to say, there is no doubt that SAPP has earned the right to form the next government of Sabah.

By Wilfred Gaban - Born in Goshen, Kota Marudu, Wilfred is a businessman based in Kota Kinabalu. He has returned from the USA where he worked for 30 years after graduating with a BA in Political Science and MS in Business Management from the University of North Texas.