KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno has reminded political leaders that not all questions are attacks, and that issues raised by the party should be met with factual responses rather than emotional reactions.
Its strategic communications director, Datu (sic) Rosman Datu Ahir Zaman, said leaders must be willing to address public concerns, particularly those relating to governance, with openness and professionalism.
“Issues such as appointments in government-linked companies (GLCs), approvals for exploration projects, and administrative transparency are not raised out of malice, nor are they personal attacks.
“They are part of the checks and balances expected of any responsible political party, including Sabah Umno,” he said in a statement on Monday (8 April).
He was responding to what he described as a lengthy statement by a pro-Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) individual defending the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the state government.
Datu Rosman said that while the response appeared detailed, it failed to distinguish between legitimate scrutiny and political attacks.
He added that transparency should not be reduced to rhetoric, stressing that the public has the right to know how decisions are made, especially when controversial companies are granted large-scale licences.
“Technical procedures and application histories are not enough. The key question is whether the decision was free from political interference, and whether the public knows who stands to benefit,” he said.
He also dismissed attempts to divert criticism by turning it into a language issue.
“Sabah Umno has never made language a central point of criticism. What we raised was the effectiveness of policy delivery to investors and the public.
“Redirecting the discussion towards the use of English is an outdated tactic that distracts from the real issues.”
On the appointment of Datuk James Wong as Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) group general manager, Datu Rosman clarified that the concern was not about ethnicity but rather the principles of merit and transparency.
“Were the appointments done competitively? Were other candidates considered? In a transparent administration, these are fair questions that deserve answers, not diversions based on racial or emotional arguments.”
He said that political experience should never be used as a shield against legitimate questions.
“We respect the Chief Minister’s experience, but that does not exempt anyone from scrutiny. If he truly believes in his record and integrity, then he should respond with facts, not by attacking those who raise concerns.”
Datu Rosman reaffirmed that Sabah Umno’s stance is guided by principle and that the party would not stay silent when decisions raise valid questions among the people or grassroots members.
“We will not allow the voices of the people to be silenced in the name of ‘boomerangs’ or any other analogy.
“If a decision gives rise to legitimate questions, it should be explained, not met with sarcasm or dismissed as the Opposition being ‘sensitive’ or ‘immature’.”
He added that Sabah Umno is not opposed to development or stability, but it rejects any administration that is above criticism, lacks transparency, or undermines public opinion.
“If the government truly adheres to the Sabah Maju Jaya principles, then it must begin by answering every question professionally, not emotionally,” he said.
