Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has reminded that Sabah saw little progress during the decades it was governed by local parties

His statement comes amid debate over the “Sabah for Sabahans” slogan, with some leaders calling for more power to be returned to local hands.

“The reality is, from 1963 to 1994, the state of Sabah was governed by local parties. That period only brought little progress because local parties often quarrelled and fought for power, so the focus was more on managing politics than managing development of the state and the people. 

“Even though the state had a lot of resources and revenue, it was not channelled towards development. Many rural areas were left behind, infrastructure was poor, the poverty rate continued to rise, and there was no structured development plan because the government kept changing. 

“This happened during the era when local parties ruled the state of Sabah for nearly 40 years,” said Bung in a statement on Tuesday. 

He said real change only began in 1994 when Barisan Nasional took over the state government as he warned that political unity should not ignore the lessons of history. 

“Political change and stability only happened when Barisan Nasional took over the administration in 1994. With a stable government, BN was able to focus on development across all corners of Sabah.”

“We built basic infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals. BN built universities, road networks including the Pan Borneo. Rural development was also active during BN’s 24-year administration,” he said. 

Bung said such progress came from consistent governance and federal collaboration — not sentiment.

“The ability to bring development did not come from slogans, but from stability, experience, and a strong administrative network between the state and the Federation.”

He added that Sabah Umno supports reform and clean leadership, but unity must be anchored in truth.

“Sabah Umno does not reject the principle of power-sharing, party reform, and leadership with integrity. In fact, we have proven that a systematic and forward-looking administration can produce direct impact on the lives of the people.”

“Therefore, in the effort to call for unity, we must also be fair to history so that past mistakes are not repeated in the name of a new spirit.”

“Sabah Umno will continue to be committed in fighting for the state’s rights under MA63, strengthening political stability, and ensuring that the people of Sabah receive fair and equal treatment within the framework of the Federation of Malaysia.”

He said unity cannot be achieved with broad declarations alone.

“Sabah’s political unity will not be achieved just through general statements. It must be built through clear policies, stable administration, and sincerity in serving the people.”

“Politics is not a matter of sentiment and emotion. Politics must be managed wisely. It will be difficult for the state government to develop if the relationship with the federal government remains turbulent.”

“Sabah’s political reforms should not plant seeds of hatred that are too deep, because in the end, the bad consequences will be borne by the people, not the politicians,” he said. – May 20, 2025