Sabah's 17th State Election

The State's Assembly was dissolved on Monday by the Sabah's Chief Minister. It fell on the Mid-Autumn festival (Mooncake festival) and also the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles, the 15th of Tishri (7th month in Israel) while in Chinese calendar it is now the 8th month. I told a couple of friends that the dissolution of the Assembly will take place near the presentation of the National Budget in the Parliament (10th October, this Friday) as the State of Sabah is expected to receive a higher portion of Budget allocation compared to previous years. It will be a campaign point for the incumbent to say that State government's good relationship with the Federal authorities will only benefit the State which argument I would agree. But that are many factors involved for the voters' consideration and decision as to who they will vote.

As someone who voted since my mid-20 after my return to Kota Kinabalu to begin work, I will base my vote on local and national considerations. Local factors would probably determine which party or candidate gets my vote next. 

After suffering two decades of intermittent water supply and no improvement in the past five years, I can't give the current government high marks in terms of performance. We still suffer from power outage from time to time. I do not ever remember power outage in Singapore or New Zealand in my stay in both countries. 

The road conditions had gotten worse, not just because of recent floods but generally speaking, road works are done haphazardly and within a few weeks need further repairs. 

The announcement of soon to be launched bus service is yet to be felt, imagine that public transport is hardly existent in the State for 20 years is another complaint. With no good public transport, I am not surprised that most families now have not just two or three but sometimes four or five cars jamming the roads and highways. Now even on Saturdays and Sundays we have to contend with traffic jams.

So in terms of basic needs (water and electricity) and infrastructure, it has failed the people of Sabah. But Sabah's elections are fought mainly in the rural areas where the majority of seats are. Unfortunately, the rural folks including Christians are easily persuaded by sweet talk and promises, sometimes cash handouts or promised projects by these candidates but most of these are just empty talk or false promises to win votes. 

No wonder, after 62 years of independence within Malaysia, the State of Sabah is the second poorest State, with rampant corruption, under performance, incompetence at many levels. I can only pray and in my preaching probably mentioned once my political thought in passing that people should not fall for the "Sabah for Sabahans" slogan, but really choose wisely leaders who are dedicated to develop the State while holding a national vision for the building of Malaysia as a whole. East and West Malaysia are one country and we should stay united for the sake of national development and we should take pride as Malaysians, first and foremost. 

I end this rather long blogpost by referencing a book I saw a year ago by Victor Hanson who wrote "The Dying Citizen" and that book hit a nail on the head, which makes the argument that less and less people (around the world) are aware of their rights, privileges and responsibilities as citizens, and if voters are more informed and educated, they can evaluate the performance of their representatives and only elect those who can truly deliver.