Kota Kinabalu: SME Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce Sabah (SBCCS) Deputy Chairman Dr Raymond Alfred called on Parti Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Aqdal to refrain from using race or religion to underscore Warisan’s strengths.
“Instead, Shafie should be highlighting the accomplishments of Warisan’s elected officials, detailing their achievements, the challenges they have encountered, and how the public can contribute to their ongoing initiatives, even from outside the government,” Raymond said.
Raymond was reacting to recent assertions made by Shafie in suggesting that the poverty within the KDMR (Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, and Rungus) communities is a result of excessive political parties representing them.
Raymond’s rebuttal is grounded in a six-month grassroots study that uncovered systemic inequalities in fund distribution and politically driven village administration as the primary causes of poverty among the KDMR communities — rather than political fragmentation.
“Our research indicates that village heads and members of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) are frequently appointed based on political allegiance rather than competence,” Raymond explained.
“As a result, community funds and development projects are often channelled primarily to party members and their affiliates, leaving a significant portion of the population excluded.”He noted that this partisan culture, entrenched during the BN and Umno administrations, including under Shafie’s leadership, has long undermined equitable development in Sabah’s rural areas.
“When development initiatives are distributed along party lines, those not aligned with the ruling coalition are systematically marginalized. This is patently unfair and perpetuates inequality within rural communities,” he added.
Raymond also expressed disapproval of Shafie’s recent use of racial and religious rhetoric, describing such tactics as divisive and outdated in modern politics.
He emphasized that genuine service to the people transcends political titles or positions.
“As an ordinary citizen without any political office, I remain dedicated to serving my community, my village, my state, and my country.
“Leadership is defined by responsibility and action, not by titles. Warisan members should feel embarrassed if their president must resort to exploiting race and religion to appeal to voters, especially the youth, ahead of PRN-17,” Raymond said.
“They should instead highlight the achievements of Warisan’s representatives, the challenges they have overcome, and how the people can continue supporting these efforts, even while out of government.”Reiterating the need for a new and inclusive political culture in Sabah, Raymond called for leadership grounded in transparency, meritocracy, and service — not division and privilege.
“Sabah deserves leadership that unites, not divides. Our focus must return to integrity, equality, and community empowerment,” he concluded.
