RANAU, a district surrounded by the rural-most parts of several poverty stricken districts, could be the poorest in Sabah, claimed State Reform Party (STAR) divisional head for Ranau, Jalibin Paidi.
Jalibin said, while it was never mentioned that Ranau is the poorest, the fact that it is at the centre of Sabah and that it is adjacent to the notoriously rural parts of Kota Marudu, Beluran, Tongod, Tambunan, Keningau, Kota Belud and Tuaran districts, might have concealed real facts on poverty in the district.
"STAR is concerned because many areas in Ranau in fact still do not enjoy basic amenities such as good roads, electricity and water. It is also a very hilly district, and that it is a common scene that natives live in poverty, living in old dilapidated wooden houses here and there," said Jalibin in a statement issued today.
Jalibin, who is also STAR state committee member, and is said to be among the top contenders as STAR's candidate in Ranau, called on the UMNO-led state government to carry out a fresh study on poverty in the state especially in rural areas like Ranau.
He said while it is taken for granted that the northern part of Sabah is the poorest with the most number of hardcore poor households, Ranau is just adjacent to most of the poverty stricken areas and this warrants a re-look as trips to the ground do find poverty as rampant in many parts of Ranau.
"Signs of poverty can also be seen from the low purchasing power of the people. In Ranau, we have three state constituencies (Kundasang, Karanaan and Paginatan) but only two visible towns - Ranau itself and Kundasang, both thriving partly because they are right on the east-west road that connects Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan and Tawau.
"The tourism sector too has in fact benefitted little to the ordinary kampung folks. There haven't any outstanding programmes that have really helped leap-frog meaningful participation of local entrepreneurs in tourism. It is all ordinary and naturally developed, not so much of government intervention," alleged Jalibin, adding that it is the same in agriculture there.
Towards this end, he said, Karanaan assemblyman, Masidi Manjun, who is Tourism and Environment Minister, and Ranau MP, Siringan Gubat, should perhaps enlighten the public on the real situation of poverty and rural developments in Ranau vis-a-vis increase of income, infrastructures, school drop-outs, mortality rate and migration of youths to other towns and cities. (STAR Media)
Masidi Manjun has challenged Jalibin Paidi to give evidence that Ranau is the poorest in Sabah, I think he should take the challenge and explain why he thinks Ranau is the poorest?
ReplyDeleteTo bring themselves out of poverty, the people must work together with the government, if the government offer them opportunity, they should take it and make the best out of it. Many refuse to work hard to help themselves out of poverty.
ReplyDeleteLocals can only benefit from economic opportunities if the locals take part in the industry. Nearly all locals in Ranau own land and these include those who are farming temperate vegetables in Kundasang
ReplyDeletekawsan Ranau tak lah mundur sangat, penduduknya pun tak juga miskin. Ranau adalah pusat pelancongan.
ReplyDeleteApa pun ranau sememangnya mula membangun seperti di Kundasang sendiri yang banyak perubahan.
ReplyDeletesebelum mengatakan Ranau daerah miskin, cuba lihat dulu daerah atau pekan2 di seluruh Sabah..
ReplyDeleteMasidi challenged Jalibin to back his claim that Ranau is the poorest district with facts and figures: Otherwise, he is just another politician who likes to court publicity with sweeping statements.
ReplyDeleteHe also said that the government has never denied the fact that poor people could be found all over Sabah, including Ranau.
ReplyDeleteThe government is doing all it can to eradicate hardcore poverty with programmes that are well publicised. However, the government are not idealists who like to paint a good picture just to soothe the feelings of the people or make promises which are practically impossible to fulfill.
ReplyDeleteHe added that there is no easy solution to poverty and he doubts that there could be a thing as total poverty eradication.Citing an example, he said that even a rich nation like the United States of America (USA) has a large number of poor people.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, the poor can strive to improve their life and their standard of living. It is not impossible. Many have succeeded. But attitude change is necessary. The people themselves must make an effort to help themselves while waiting or getting assistance from the government.
ReplyDeleteThe government’s poverty eradication aid must be complimented by the people’s strong desire to be removed from the grasp of poverty. Only then, can the government’s objective toward poverty eradication be met.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Jalibin is claiming that locals there are not benefitting from the economic opportunities that are present in the district, whether in the form of tourism and agriculture, Masidi urged the STAR divisional head to ask why locals are losing out to outsiders.
ReplyDeleteHe added that the same life principle applies to economic opportunities. We can only benefit from economic opportunities if we take part in the industry. Nearly all locals in Ranau own land and these include those who are farming temperate vegetables in Kundasang,” said Masidi.
ReplyDeleteThe locals used to own all the agricultural land in Kundasang and its surrounding areas. The Agriculture Department has introduced various assistance to assist local farmers and once upon a time, even KPD focussed on the agricultural development of Kundasang.
ReplyDeleteThe problem started when many of the locals began selling their land to outsiders. Today, half of the titled land in Kundasang has been sold to outsiders.
ReplyDeleteThe new owners developed their land and hired foreigners due to unavailability of local labour. As more land were developed, more workers were needed. They have to hire more foreign workers because only a small number of locals there was keen to work.
ReplyDeleteIf outsiders had benefited from the agricultural industry, it was due to their willingness to work hard to till their land to generate income. And many had become rich.
ReplyDeleteSo are we blaming the government because non locals have succeeded while most of the locals remain the same? By the way, there are also locals who have succeeded. I hope STAR is not suggesting that we should penalise non-Ranaurians who have worked hard and succeeded.
ReplyDeleteAs for the tourism industry, Masidi stressed that the same principle applies. Opportunities are to be grabbed for the same of the common benefit. Don’t wait to be spoon-fed. To say that it did not benefit the locals is an insult to the intelligence of the locals.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Masidi, Kg Sinisian is one of the most successful homestays in the country and it generated half a million ringgit revenue last year. And his own constituency, Karanaan, has achieved tremendous infrastructure improvement in the last eight years. Suffice to say that it takes a politically blind person not to acknowledge tremendous infrastructure improvement that has been achieved in the Karanaan Constituency over the last eight years.
ReplyDeleteOver 90 per cent of villages now enjoy electricity supply and I am confident we can achieve 100 per cent soon. Upgrading of major trunk roads is also in progress. There are still more to do, but it cannot be achieved by mere sloganeering or making empty promises. Leadership is about doing what is right not playing to the political gallery with popular rhetorics.
ReplyDelete