Julia Chan
KOTA KINABALU, Dec 26 ― To say Sabah
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal did not have an easy ride to the top is
an understatement.
The Semporna native galvanised a
fractious Opposition, broke down a Barisan Nasional stronghold despite being
thrown into lock-up, and toppled his powerful political nemesis in incongruous
fashion, so no one can say he did not have to battle to get to the top.
However, once in the chief
minister’s post he has had to tackle some thorny issues dealing with security,
conservation, socio economic development and race, all while living up to high
expectations.
Here are what lawmakers from both
sides of the political divide, as well as political observers and man on the
street, think about his performance:
GOOD
1. Logging ban
Out to clean up allegations of
timber monopolies and illegal logging, Shafie’s controversial and drastic
decision to ban the export of logs and subsequent review all timber
concessionaires was lauded by most people.
“Stopping illegal logging is
probably the best thing he’s done so far. It’s two-prong, to stop unrelentless
logging and also keep the money within the state and provide jobs. If he can
industrialise the timber downstream industry, that would change the state
economy,” said Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin.
2. Abolishing communal titles
The former administration mooted
communal titles for the purpose of preventing individuals from selling their
land to “outsiders”, an unpopular decision due to the lack of individual rights
it granted its holder, and when Shafie decided to abolish it, it was generally
well received.
Despite the pros of the communal
title, many preferred the uncomplicated nature of a conventional land title.
3. People skills
Shafie has called himself a chief
minister for all Sabahans, across all the races, and has made a point of
visiting communities in all regions in the State, and even won the hearts of
the Christian community by singing a Christmas carol during a Christmas bazaar
at the town ground.
“Everywhere Shafie goes, he is well
received ― in the city, in the interior he is going down to the ground and
appealing to most Sabahans. He definitely is riding high on popularity, people
welcome him everywhere, and his soft spokenness and good manners also earn him
a lot of supporters both in urban and rural areas,” said Chan.
BAD
1. Coal mining
When Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad first suggested accessing Sabah’s coal reserves, Sabahans were up in
arms, offended that Sabah’s precious natural resources be exploited by “federal
powers”. Shafie later said that they would do a feasibility study first, but at
the same time alluded that the government might need to take a controversial
route for the greater good of the people.
“It goes against their so-called
pledge to protect the environment. The Maliau Basin has been protected by the
previous governments for the last 30 years. It was tempting but its environment
implications ― and the global backlash ― stopped them, and for good reason,”
said Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
“In an era where we are moving into
sustainable methods of harnessing power, its archaic to move back to coal.
There is argument for clean coal technology but the mining of coal is almost
certain to affect the sensitive ecology. It might bring benefits but it might
be ‘political suicide’ in my view.”
2. Datukship titles
The Sabah governor’s birthday this
year came four months after the new administration and saw the entire Sabah
Cabinet among 65 people plus some MPs getting the title of Datuk, something
that did not sit well with many Sabahans, given how inexperienced some of the
ministers were.
“He was rewarding his people too
fast ― it’s nice that he’s trying to reward their contribution, but it is
exactly the Umno culture people were rejecting. I think this was a lost
opportunity for the new government to show they were ‘different’ and were not
about reward for their people.
“There’s nothing technically wrong
with it, but it was thoroughly unnecessary and gives the wrong impression,”
said one prominent lawyer in Sabah.
3. The extension of the governor’s
term
The most recent controversy to hit
Shafie was the lifting of the two-term limit for the governor as head of state.
Assemblymen questioned the timing ―
during a special sitting two weeks ahead of the current Head of State Tun Juhar
Mahiruddin’s term expiry, and his involvement in the appointing of two chief
ministers after the May 9 polls.
Despite protests from several state
assemblymen, the amendment was passed in the state assembly last week with 45
in favour of the change, 15 objecting, and five absent from voting.
“This move leaves a bad
impression for the public and does not bode well for Warisan who has promised government
reforms,” said political analyst Arnold Puyok.
“Of course they argued that this was
in line with MA63 but rather than focusing on the TYT term, there are more
pertinent issues to focus on, such as uplifting the English language as
official language in Sabah or seeking the mandate from the state assembly to
strengthen Sabah’s position in the federation.”
MA63 refers to the Malaysia
Agreement 1963 and TYT is the Malay abbreviation for Tuan Yang Terutama, or
Your Excellency in English.
INCONCLUSIVE
1. Dual portfolio
After a contentious route to the
chief minister office, Shafie appointed himself as state finance minister. Like
Dr Mahathir’s decision to also take on the education portfolio, the decision
was criticised but unlike the latter, Shafie chose to retain both portfolios,
saying that he would not hold the finance portfolio longer than necessary to
sort out the state’s economic “mess”.
“It’s unfortunate that he did not
take the more honourable route. But to be fair, Shafie’s Parti Warisan Sabah did
not make any promise to not hold dual portfolios, like Pakatan Harapan
and Shafie also has an degree in Economics, which makes him the most
qualified for the post,” said a state assemblyman in the Warisan-led government
who declined to be named.
“If Shafie is really serious about
reforming governance in Sabah, he shouldn’t take a dual ministerial role. The
perception now is that, just like his predecessor, Shafie wants to have a total
control over how financial resources are being distributed. But his decision
not to let state GLCs to be run by elected politicians is laudable,” said
Arnold Puyok.
2. Stance on Kaiduan dam and Tanjung
Aru Eco Development (TAED)
“Shafie’s party leaders have vocally
opposed the two controversial projects pre-GE14, saying that the BN government
did not consider the people involved, and promised to scrap the project. But
the lack of clear stance now gives the impression that current state government
was only pretending to side with the people for votes, and are not doing anything
about it now,” said Bangkuai.
“Shafie has to explain why Kaiduan
and the TAED are important in terms if their benefits. he has to convince the
people as well that the projects will be developed with great care to ensure
that the environmental impacts are minimal,” said Puyok.
There has yet to be a decision on
either projects.
3. Reversal on pump boat ban
Championing the people’s livelihood,
Shafie lifted the ban on pump boats and reintroduced barter trading with
southern Philippines which were enforced at the advice of security authorities
in the interest of preventing undesirable elements from entering Sabah.
Cross border criminals, including
kidnap-for-ransom groups and smugglers, tend to favour pump boats for their
speed and ability to move quickly in waters, even when shallow.
“This could be good for some
fishermen and coastal businesses whose livelihood has been affected, but with
security at stake, I think the risk is too high. As it is, there are some
intrusions and kidnapping happening where the culprits were using pump boats,”
said Bangkuai.
4. The case for state rights, and
increased oil royalty
Arguably the biggest political
question at stake is whether Shafie can compel the federal government to give
in to Sabah’s demands to reinstate the state’s right as enshrined in the MA63
as well as fulfill their pledge to increase the oil royalty from 5 to 20 per
cent.
“Shafie’s promise of fighting for
the oil royalty and MA63 are nothing new. It has been in the agenda of
successive governments since PBS. In fact Shafie, in reply to my question at
the state assembly, said he was confident the request for 20 per cent oil
royalty would be finalised before end of the year. It's already December and
there is no concrete indication it could be met,” said Bangkuai.
“He should tackle the MA63 head-on
and in a practical manner, unlike many of the so-called Sabah champions who are
only interested in raising anti-federal sentiments,” said Puyok.
So how did Shafie score?
While Shafie’s first six months in
office have been riddled with a mix of issues, political observers said he has
the benefit of doubt from the people, but also carry a lot of expectations in
the “new Malaysia.”
“People are expecting some things to
happen quickly, like in peninsular Malaysia, but there is a seeming lack of
direction when he takes too long to deliberate ― that is the appointing
chairmans for boards and GLCs, Tanjung Aru project and even his stance on child
marriage could have been a lot better,” said a political analyst who declined
to be named.
The analyst said that the Warisan
government must be seen to be on equal footing with the federal government,
reminding them that several Warisan leaders hold prominent positions in the
federal government as should have more authority and accountability.
“For instance, the MA63 and return
of 40 per cent of revenue to the state. These things, although tedious in
nature, should be delivered to some extent. There should be more evidence of
equal partnership or else it is just like before ― an example of federal powers
lording over Sabah again.
“I don’t think the public thinks he
performed badly, but there is much to do and improve upon, and there has yet to
be concrete signs of a “better” government,” he said.
Source: https://www.malaymail.com/s/1706276/shafies-year-end-rated-the-good-the-bad...-and-the-well-see
