Kota Kinabalu: The challenges Sabah faces today are not the fault of any single administration, but the result of systemic failures inherited from decades of leadership, said Telupid Assemblyman Datuk Jonnybone J Kurum.
Jonnybone said it was time for all sides to take shared responsibility rather than placing the blame squarely on the current government.
He noted that many of those now criticising the government had themselves once held positions of power – whether in the State or Federal government – and were equally accountable for the State’s present condition.
“The failure we face today is a failure we inherited together. It’s not fair to place all the blame on the current government when many of us in this very chamber have been part of the system for decades.
“If anyone says they are better than this government, that’s a lie and pure rhetoric. The problems didn’t appear overnight, and pretending otherwise is not only dishonest – it’s dangerous.”
Jonnybone also criticised the tendency of some leaders to discredit the work of previous administrations simply because of political rivalry. He said progress in Sabah had often been derailed by ego-driven decisions to undo initiatives that could have benefited the people.
“We’ve spent far too long fighting each other, undoing each other’s work, and criticising just to score political points. If we don’t put aside ego and start working as a team, all our talk of development will go nowhere. Unity is no longer optional – it’s a necessity.”
He then addressed several long-standing issues affecting his constituency, particularly water supply disruptions caused by outdated infrastructure and natural disasters.
He explained that while the state government had approved funding for upgrades in Telupid, heavy floods earlier this year had damaged the intake system and delayed restoration efforts.
“People were angry, and I understand. But sometimes we forget that weather is beyond our control.
“When the floods hit earlier this year, the whole intake system was submerged and damaged. These things take time to fix, and it’s not fair to blame the government every time the water cuts out.”
Jonnybone also highlighted frequent power outages in Telupid, which he said were largely due to cable theft and delays in utility relocation under the Pan Borneo Highway project. Despite these challenges, he praised the dedication of SESB staff in responding to emergencies.
“The first person people call during a blackout is the assemblyman. But they don’t realise that sometimes the cable hasn’t even been moved yet and it’s already been stolen. SESB even deployed a lorry-mounted generator in Telupid for weeks just to keep one area powered. That’s not negligence – that’s coordination challenges. But their staff worked day and night, and I think that deserves recognition.”
He then brought attention to unresolved administrative overlaps between Telupid and Beluran, which he said had delayed service delivery and made development planning difficult. Despite Telupid being declared a full district in 2014, many government services – including land, education and utilities – remained under Beluran’s jurisdiction.
“It’s already 2025, yet the land offices, schools and water management for some villages in Telupid are still handled by Beluran.
“How are we supposed to plan or apply for funding when jurisdiction is all over the place? This isn’t just inconvenient – it’s weakening our local administration,” he said. Jonnybone also touched on the issue of corruption, saying it was a major hurdle to development that must be addressed sincerely.
He warned against using anti-corruption narratives as political ammunition and said any meaningful change must begin with personal accountability.
“If you say you’re free from corruption, ask yourself first. If you claim that the current government – or even previous ones – never practised corruption, I wouldn’t believe that either. If we truly want to fight corruption, it has to start with self-awareness, not blaming others.”
Despite these concerns, Jonnybone said he remained hopeful that Sabah could move forward – provided all stakeholders worked together and focused on solutions rather than rhetoric.
He said the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan offered a clear path forward if it was implemented with consistency and political stability.
“If we truly want to see Sabah progress, the plans are there, the foundation is there. But we need to stop sabotaging each other. We need humility and political stability.
That’s the only way forward.”
He also praised several tate government initiatives that had brought real relief to rural communities, including the SMJ housing programme, free insurance for MyKad-holding Sabahans, and education assistance for students.
“Some of the people selected to receive SMJ houses cried when they heard the news. These are families who’ve lived in broken wooden homes for decades, with no hope of upgrading. Now the state is giving them security.
“The same goes for students – RM2,000 or RM1,500 may seem small to some, but to village families sending their kids to university, it’s everything,” he said.
Jonnybone closed his speech with a call for unity and focus, urging all departments, civil servants and lawmakers across party lines to put aside personal politics and prioritise the people’s needs.
“If we want real change, we have to stop asking who failed and start asking what we can fix – together. We’ve spent too long pointing fingers. It’s time we all come together and get the job done – for Sabah,” he added.