KOTA KINABALU: Clinging to outdated mindsets and blame-centric narratives will only hold Sabah back from real progress, says Sabah Wanita MCA chief Dr Pamela Yong (pic).
She said that she believes that if Sabahans continue to be disunited, they will repeat the same cycle of missed opportunities and internal conflict.
“Take Australia as an example. Would we see a Sabahan today as their Foreign Affairs Minister if narrow, self-limiting thinking had driven the country?
“Unlikely. That is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when merit, unity, and visionary leadership are embraced,” said Dr Yong in a statement on Saturday (May 17).
Instead of constantly asking why “Malaya” seems to have outpaced Sabah, the state should be asking why it has not positioned itself as strongly as Sarawak.
“Is it because we are divided? Or have we failed to consistently nurture courageous, forward-thinking leaders who prioritise Sabah’s future over political gain?” she asked.
Dr Yong also questioned the popular “Sabah for Sabahans” rhetoric, urging reflection beyond slogans.
“We blame others and compare ourselves, but how often do we turn the lens inward and examine our own failings?
“Yes, Sabah has been shortchanged, but have we, as Sabahans, done our part to safeguard our rights, demand accountability, and ensure what is due to us is properly delivered?” she further questioned.
She drew a comparison with Singapore, a country with no natural resources and reliant on imported water, yet now a global benchmark of efficiency and development. This was achieved by focusing on what it could build rather than what it lacked.
“Natural resources are a blessing, but they are not the key to success. What matters is how we manage what we have, our people, our land, our systems, with integrity, innovation, and discipline,” she said.
Yong added that Sabah must stop looking backward and start forging a united, ambitious vision for the future.
“It is time we step up, not just with words, but with action, unity, and the will to shape our own destiny,” she said.
