Acting Parti Bersatu Sabah President Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam (third right), China consul general Huang Shifang (second left) and other dignitaries at the PBS Chinese New Year Dinner 2025 in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday (Feb 5).
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's frequent political changes have long hindered the state's growth, claims acting Parti Bersatu Sabah President Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, who contrasted this with Sarawak's consistent leadership since Malaysia's formation.
"People often ask why we cannot be like Sarawak. But remember, Sarawak’s leadership has been stable since Malaysia was formed. Their core leadership has never changed," he said.
"In Sabah, however, we change every five to ten years. New policies, new governments... this instability has delayed our progress."
Political stability, according to Dr Gunsalam, is crucial for Sabah to move forward and achieve the level of development seen in Sarawak.
"We cannot focus on physical development until we have a stable political environment. That is one of the main reasons why we have not progressed as much as Sarawak," said the Deputy Chief Minister at the PBS Chinese New Year Dinner 2025, here, on Wednesday (Feb 5).
Acting Parti Bersatu Sabah President Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam (fifth right), China consul general Huang Shifang (second left) and other dignitaries tossing the ‘lau sang’ at the PBS Chinese New Year Dinner 2025 in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday (Feb 5).
However, he expressed hope in the newly established Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), optimistic that the coalition of local parties could be a turning point for the state, with a focus on improving the quality of life for all Sabahans, regardless of race, background, or religion.
"The core mission of GRS is to serve everyone in Sabah, bringing positive change to our communities," he added.
As Sabah faces development challenges, he believes that GRS can pave the way for a more stable, unified, and prosperous future for the people of the state.
Also present at the event were China consul general Huang Shifang, PBS, and Chinese community leaders.
