KOTA KINABALU: The unemployment rate in Sabah has remained stagnant at 7.7% for the past five years under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) administration, says Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir.
Citing data from the Statistics Department Malaysia, Suhaimi pointed out that while the national unemployment rate has declined to 3.2% in 2024, Sabah's rate has remained unchanged.
“This clearly shows that the Sabah government under GRS leadership has not made any efforts to reduce unemployment,” he said during the debate on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address in Parliament on Thursday (feb 13).
Suhaimi, who is also the Sabah Umno information chief, stressed the need to empower the bumiputra agenda to ensure better job opportunities for young people.
“In this era of globalisation and rapid economic change, a more strategic approach is required to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of this agenda,” he added.
He proposed that the government strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) initiatives, aligning them with industry growth driven by innovation and technology to benefit the younger generation.
Additionally, he called for enhanced entrepreneurship programmes to support young people venturing into businesses and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Suhaimi also alleged the Sabah government was not utilising federal allocations meant for the state's development in an optimal manner.
“The federal and Sabah state governments should prioritise improvements in basic infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and electricity.
"However, a recurring concern is whether the efforts initiated by the federal government are effectively implemented at the state level," he said.
Suhaimi further criticised the GRS administration for frequently offering excuses when policies fail to be implemented, and urged for federal initiatives to be fully and effectively adopted in Sabah.
“The people of Sabah deserve development on par with other states,” he said.
