Kota Kinabalu: The Api-Api Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) youth wing is adamant that autonomy is needed for natural resource-laden Sabah, especially in terms of economy and education, in order to chart its own future.
Its Youth Chief, Safwan Faisyal Diego, said decentralisation is no longer a choice but a necessity for rapid infrastructural development in line with the aspiration of Sabahans today.
“With greater powers for the State, we can achieve development projects faster, bypassing Federal bureaucracy.
“Sabah is rich in natural oil and gas resources but is leashed by the Petroleum Development Act 1974 (PDA) with huge potential in green energy, especially hydroelectricity.
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“Decentralisation of our education sector will give us to right to arrange our curriculum to suit local needs. Sarawak has implemented the Iban language in their education system and English and Bahasa Malaysia for science and mathematics.
“The use of English in such important subjects is imperative to ensure Sabahans remain competitive in the international level. Our students are also ought to be taught Sabah’s real history thoroughly,” he said.
Safwan’s speech was met with full support by members during the division’s Annual General Meeting held at a hotel here, recently.
It’s Division Chief, Datuk Faisyal Yusof Hamdain Diego in his officiating speech seconded the motion encouraging it to be brought up to central level.
“The era of the leaders today is almost up. We are now seeing the sunset. Those leaders who have not yet done so, should do the righteous thing in fulfilling their entrusted responsibilities.
“And those who cannot, please pass it down to our dear youth. It is their turn now,” he told the attendance of some 250 members.
Faisyal encouraged supporters to maintain the momentum, stressing that they hold the power to influence Gagasan Rakyat’s leaders and create change in the process.
Meanwhile, Gagasan Rakyat Central and Api-Api Women’s Youth Chief, Emmie Martin Idang, said despite the party being unlikely to contest in Api-Api, members should not underestimate their own abilities and act indifferent.
“Do not underestimate the power of spreading information by word of mouth. We all need to equip ourselves with information on the government’s initiatives, policies and the good things it has done.
“Spread the word to our friends from other areas. These are all capable of changing any negative perception of the people, especially in urban areas.
“We all need to unite to make sure that Api-Api continues to receive an abundance from the State Government so let us keep working hard to ensure the agenda’s implemented.
“We have to show that even if we do not hold this area, we are still strong and whole in supporting the president and any friendly parties.
“Young people, our support is vital in determining our future which we are responsible for,” she said.
Also present were Gagasan Rakyat Secretary General Datuk Razali Razi, Api-Api Deputy Division Chief, Usin Sukor and Vice Chief Murni Awang, Division Secretary, Johan Diego, Treasurer, Rena Kashelda Yusof, Information Chief, Datuk Yeo Boon Hai and Women’s Chief Salmi Sarinoh.
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