AS we celebrate the 61st Malaysia Day, it is worthwhile to remember that the relations between East and West Malaysia, despite the trials and tribulations, have withstood the test of time.
Presently, with the emergence of strong and visionary leaders such as Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg the ties will become more resilient now that the East Malaysian can have a more equal relationship with the more populous and developed Malayan Peninsula, unlike before.
From the beginning, regrettably, West Malaysia was keener to exploit for itself the resources of the weaker Sabah and Sarawak.
Due to the lack of dynamic leaders to protect the rights of the natives the exploitation went on unchecked and the people benefitted only a nominal amount and poverty was widespread.
Timber, petroleum, gas and other resources were very much used by certain vested local and Peninsular political and corporate interests to amass millions of ringgits.
Sabah and Sarawak had a large number of self-serving myopic leaders and politicians, and this mainly explains why these two states were not able to go on a development spree like Singapore.
To add to the problems there was unhindered migration of people from nearby islands especially to Sabah raising issues of citizenship, security and the demographic dilution of some communities.
Both Sabah and Sarawak have abundant resources and if they had been used for the people’s benefit and wellbeing poverty in these states could have become a thing of the past.
With smaller populations but with abundant natural resources both the states should have been transformed if they had capable leaders who had the vision to transform the states.
Some leaders not only exploited the economic resources but also the ethnic and religious make-up of the states to create political instability as well as communal disharmony and misgivings to ensure a permanent divide-and-rule policy that will benefit the self-serving politicians, their lackeys and cronies.
Poverty is a major issue in East Malaysia. The two states have opened up large areas and invested much on the golden crop and with palm oil prices high, poverty among the rural communities can be reduced.
The two states should go for high-value manufacturing and related sectors to eliminate poverty faster. West Malaysian leaders need to do more for Sabah and Sarawak especially in attracting foreign investments. The Peninsula get the lion’s share of major investments.
West Malaysian politicians had neglected the two states a lot, and due to weak leaders Sabah and Sarawak had not been able to stop the economic exploitation which mainly benefitted the Peninsula.
Even under the Vision 2020 and other socio-economic programmes the two states were sidelined and development was focused on the West coast of the peninsula.
It was only during Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s premiership that circumstances began to change. His large budgetary allocations for the infrastructural development in Sabah and Sarawak initiated a new phase of development and a change of the government’s stance.
Najib also declared Malaysia Day a public holiday to make it more meaningful to the people. Now East Malaysian leaders have begun to demand and assert their rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Both the states should get a fairer share of the resources especially petroleum and gas. The exploitation of the petroleum resources was very much in favour of the Peninsula and quite a large share of Petronas’ earnings had been misused for various questionable ventures by previous federal governments.
A larger share of Petronas’ profits should have been used for the development of Sabah and Sarawak to ensure a more balanced progress between the two regions.
At a time when even small islands prefer to be free and independent, the magnanimity shown by the Sabahans and Sarawakians to become part of Malaysia must be greatly appreciated and rewarded.
Fortunately for the two states, the political situation in the country has been undergoing a change and transformation for the last two decades with new parties being able to form the federal government.
The East Malaysian parties have now been thrown into the limelight and have become kingmakers in the resulting coalition government.
Provided the leaders of two states use their unprecedented political bargaining power wisely for the people’s benefit, the development and progress can continue unabated.
It is time for Sabahans and the Sarawakians to progress under their strong state government to be at par with the Peninsula.
Malaysia Day will only be meaningful if both East and West Malaysia have an equal trusting relationship that enables them to sincerely respect one another to build a truly united diverse Malaysia. – Sept 17, 2024
V. Thomas is a Focus Malaysia viewer.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
