KOTA KINABALU: It is unfair to blame the government of the day for the shortcomings it inherited from past administrators, says Telupid assemblyman Datuk Jonnybone Kurum
He said that finger-pointing over past failures will not resolve the state’s present challenges.
Kurum acknowledged public frustration over slow progress, especially in areas like Telupid where development remains lacking.
"We cannot deny the problems, but we must also recognise the efforts that have been made," said Kurum during the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting on Monday (April 14).
He pointed out that many of the state’s current leaders, including long-serving elected representatives, have been part of the system for over 30 years and have shaped Sabah’s political and development landscape.
“Some of us have served as state and federal ministers. We have worked together before for the betterment of Sabah. So, the failures we see today are not the fault of a single group. They are a shared legacy,” he said.
“Let us follow the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap. Even if our infrastructure, like roads and electricity, is still lagging, at least we are seeing progress,” he added.
Kurum urged his fellow leaders to support ongoing development initiatives and not belittle the work that has been done.
“We are the ones who will leave behind a legacy for future generations,” he said.
Kurum also said that instability is at the root of Sabah’s long-standing challenges and stressed the need for a united approach.
"The formula is simple – do not be arrogant. Do not assume we know everything or that we are always right. If we refuse to listen to others, we will never make progress,” he said.
