SABAH Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has proudly declared that Tawau is the first district to achieve ‘zero poverty’ through its poverty eradication program (Borneo Post, 3rd August 2010).
Such declaration will certainly raise more questions. Economically, Sabah is not doing well. In fact there are more than 200,000 Sabahans in West Malaysia looking for greener pasture. They were convinced that it is the land of opportunity.
The fact that our people are heading somewhere else indicates the sorry state of our economy. Based on the newspaper reports those who left our shore are mainly school dropouts and unskilled manpower.
Is Musa saying that poverty is now eradicated in Tawau because all the school dropouts and unskilled manpower there have moved elsewhere? In this sense we must take Musa’s declaration of Tawau been freed from poverty with a pinch of salt.
Sabah DAP State Publicity Secretary Dr. Edwin Bosi said, in the 9th Malaysia Plan it was stated that in Sabah those with income less than RM888 per month is categorized as poor while those with less than RM503 per month are considered under abject poverty.
Eradication of poverty is not a priority under the BN government. In fact poverty is a strategic weapon of BN in retaining power. It is an open secret that BN has used its huge financial resource to win elections. What better strategy than to keep the people under the coconut shell and poor so that the election handouts will work wonder.
Random survey in Sabah will reveal that wages and salary for unskilled workers to be around RM500.00 per month. They are mainly from the rural areas looking for the money to survive and also help their family in the villages. These people usually rent a house and live on maggi mee.
They do not have any quality life and many are drawn into vices which bring more money with a high price to pay. Many have become drug mules. This gives a short view of what is happening in our country.
Musa Aman must have a hidden agenda when he selected Tawau as poverty-free district. Sri Tanjung, a constituency in Tawau is held by Sabah DAP Deputy Chief YB Jimmy Wong. Looking at the political point of view Sabah DAP must be elated with Musa’s declaration.
Is Musa acknowledging Jimmy’s hard work in uplifting the awareness and prospect of the people in his constituency? Whatever it is, Sabahans are laughing at this declaration and for those in Tawau who are still struggling to make ends meet they are must be cursing at the Chief Minister and the BN government.
As far as Sabah DAP is concerned, poverty eradication program is a priority. A country with rich natural resources cannot afford to be declared the poorest state in Malaysia. It is a shame more so for the government of the day.
The billions of fund pouring into the state are not changing the living condition of the people. It definitely has a tremendous impact on the lifestyle of the BN leaders. Dr. Edwin said, the sorry state of Sabah indicates the poor level of proficiency and capabilities of our BN political leaders in managing the country.
For Sabah to move ahead and for Sabahans to enjoy the richness of their country, they must be brave to make the change. Enough is enough. The time to change has come and we must change. In a two-party system, Sabahans have a choice and in this case Pakatan Rakyat is the best choice.
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