KOTA KINABALU: Sarawak’s revenue has tripled to RM14bil in under a decade — a transformation Warisan says Sabah can achieve too, if its people unite behind local leadership, says Datuk Junz Wong.
The Warisan vice-president said Sarawak’s rise was the result of its people choosing to back local parties and reclaim control over their own economic future.
He said the state had steadily taken back key sectors such as oil and gas, ports, banking and aviation, and is now reaping the rewards — including plans to offer free university education to Sarawakians enrolling next year, with full policy details expected to be announced in October.
Beyond university, Sarawak’s growing income is also being directed toward supporting secondary students, showing a broader commitment to long-term talent development.
In contrast, Sabah once had a similar vision but lost ground due to decades of political fragmentation and interference from Peninsular-based parties, he said.
Wong added that Sabahans must unite behind local parties capable of forming a strong, autonomous state government that can negotiate with the federal administration on equal footing.
He said Sabah must also work toward establishing its own university, ensuring that students no longer need to leave the state in search of opportunities.
Reversing the state’s long-running brain drain, he added, must be a priority.
This, he said, is Sabah’s moment to rise — but only if its people act collectively.
