Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s civil society platform, Sabar (Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights) wrapped up town hall sessions under the “Sabah Voices to Action” series with the message that the future lies in empowering youth and demanding accountability from politicians.
It was the final of their eight engagements across Sabah which saw over 300 participants converge at Wisma Wanita, Sunday.
Sabar Chairman Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa expressed pride in presenting a document of aspirations and actions derived from four months of listening to the people.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});He said the policy document will be submitted to all parties contesting the coming state election, in the expectation that the proposals would be adopted in their manifestos and more importantly, implemented after the polls.
“We don’t want to see a repeat of past promises that were abandoned after elections. This initiative is about building a new political culture that instills responsibility and follows through,” he said.
Looking ahead, Zainie revealed that Sabar would shift focus toward engaging young Sabahans in the next phase of their work.
“We want to walk with the youth, shape their political mindset, and help them understand the importance of choosing leaders who keep their word.
“They must know how to pick representatives who genuinely deliver on their promises. That’s how we build a better Sabah, one election at a time,” he said.
He hoped the manifesto guide crafted from these town hall sessions would serve not just this election cycle, but for many to come.
SAPP Women’s Youth Wing Chief, Yvonne Yong Yit Phung, hailed the initiative as a much-needed departure from the typical political echo chamber, calling for more youth to step forward and help shape Sabah’s future.
Yvonne praised the organisers for encouraging proactive dialogue and engaging youth in meaningful policy discussions.
“The way questions were framed, how discussions were guided, it was very professional. It showed how much the youth care, and how much potential they have if given the platform,” she said.
Vice President of Borneo History, Sahar Piasin, 65, welcomed the shift in focus at the final town hall, noting a refreshing change from previous events.
“Unlike before, which mostly centred around MA63, this time the emphasis was more on youth development through education, rural empowerment, and infrastructure. That made it very interesting,” he said.
Sahar noted that speakers appeared to deliberately target students and young people, which, in turn, deserves the attention of Sabahan parents.
“They weren’t just asking for opportunities, they were being spoken to directly about the future of their children. That made a real impact,” he added.
Borneo History was invited to host an exhibition at the event, showcasing historical documents and treaties, some of which were made available for sale.