Former Sabah Bersatu deputy chief Aksyah Nasrah has hit back at critics questioning the appointment of businessman Datuk James Wong Kein Peng as Group General Manager (GGM) of the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO).

He said Wong’s selection was based on merit and leadership—not race.

“This is not about race, but about the capability to advance Sabah’s economy,” Aksyah said in a statement Thursday. 

“There is no rule that says the GGM position is only for Bumiputeras.”

SEDCO, founded in 1971 to support Bumiputera businesses, recently appointed Wong to replace Haizar Razif Hisyam, whose contract had ended. 

But the move has sparked debate on whether a non-Bumiputera should hold the post.

Aksyah, who left Sabah Bersatu late last year to back Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, insisted Wong’s credentials make him the right man for the job.

Other than supporting GRS, his political affliation is not clear at present. 

Born in Kota Kinabalu, Wong comes from a well-known Sabah family. His father, Datuk Francis Wong, was a renowned architect, while his sister, Penny Wong, is Australia’s Foreign Minister, the statement reads. 

Wong himself is no stranger to leadership. 

As CEO of a top architecture firm in Sabah, he manages 50 senior staff and 200 field employees. 

He has also won multiple national awards in architecture and business and chaired the Sabah Chapter of the Malaysia Chinese Chamber of Commerce – Young Entrepreneurs Committee (MCCC-YEC).

Aksyah said Wong’s appointment should be seen as an opportunity rather than a controversy.

“Instead of focusing on race, we should tap into his experience in economic and organisational development,” he said.

Aksyah believes Wong’s leadership could set a new benchmark for government-linked companies in Sabah, adding that there’s also no provision stating that the position is exclusive to Bumiputeras. 

“This is a bold, merit-based decision. I am confident he can help drive Sabah’s economy to greater heights by championing the ‘Sabah First’ principle,” he said.

He urged Sabahans to work together beyond racial and political lines for the state’s development. – March 20, 2025