KOTA KINABALU: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government is facing mounting criticism over the alleged secretive issuance of mineral mining licences and attempts to distort the state’s oil and gas history.
Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir (pic) said public trust had been betrayed, warning that Sabah’s resources were being managed “like a family inheritance” rather than state assets belonging to the people.
“The people’s trust is the highest principle in any democracy. Unfortunately, under the current GRS administration, that trust has been blatantly betrayed by political greed,” said Suhaimi, who is also the Libaran MP, in a statement on Tuesday (July 22).
He took issue with recent remarks that Sabah’s oil and gas sector only began developing after the establishment of SMJ Energy (SMJE) in 2021, pointing out that the RM54bil Sabah Integrated Oil and Gas Project (SIOGP) was launched in 2014 under the Barisan Nasional administration.
“GRS leaders are attempting to rewrite history,” he said.
Suhaimi also questioned whether the much-publicised investments into Sabah were truly benefitting ordinary Sabahans or merely enriching political cronies.
“GRS often boasts about multi-billion ringgit investments into Sabah, but the people deserve to know: how much of that truly goes to companies owned by genuine Sabahans?” he said.
He said it was unacceptable that the state government remained silent on basic public demands such as clean water, better roads, and stable electricity — yet was swift and quiet when it came to awarding mining licences.
“When it comes to mining licences, the government suddenly becomes swift, rushed, and silent. Is this the real priority of GRS?” he asked.
“Sabah is not the private estate of politicians. It is the people’s property.”
Suhaimi said Sabah was now in the midst of a leadership crisis, adding that true leaders would not trade the state’s land and dignity for political survival.
“The people of Sabah deserve to know who profits and who approved it, because this state is not a personal fiefdom to be controlled by political elites,” he said.
“Do not ever sell out Sabah for personal gain,” he added.
