SANDAKAN: Sabah UMNO has reminded political leaders that questions raised by the party should not be perceived as attacks but as part of checks and balances, calling for factual responses instead of emotional reactions.
Sabah UMNO’s strategic communications director, Datu Rosman Datu Ahir Zaman, emphasized that leaders must address public concerns—particularly regarding governance—with openness and professionalism.
“Issues such as appointments in government-linked companies (GLCs), exploration project approvals, and administrative transparency are not personal attacks but legitimate inquiries expected from a responsible political party,” he said in a statement on April 8.
His remarks came in response to a lengthy defence by a pro-Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) individual of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the state government. Datu Rosman argued that the reply, while detailed, conflated scrutiny with political hostility.
Datu Rosman stressed that transparency must be substantive, not just rhetorical, especially in decisions involving controversial companies receiving large-scale licenses.
“Technical procedures alone are insufficient. The public deserves to know if decisions were free from political interference and who benefits,” he said.
He also rejected attempts to shift criticism to language issues, clarifying that Sabah UMNO’s focus was on policy effectiveness, not English proficiency.
Addressing the appointment of Datuk James Wong as Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) group general manager, Datu Rosman clarified that the concern was about merit and transparency, not ethnicity.
“Were appointments competitive? Were other candidates considered? These are fair questions that demand answers, not racial or emotional deflection,” he said.
Datu Rosman asserted that political experience should not exempt leaders from accountability.
“Respect for the Chief Minister’s record doesn’t negate the need for scrutiny. If integrity is upheld, responses should be fact-based, not dismissive,” he said.
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to accountability, Datu Rosman vowed that Sabah UMNO would not suppress valid public or grassroots concerns.
“We won’t let voices be silenced by analogies like ‘boomerangs.’ Legitimate questions deserve explanations, not sarcasm or accusations of sensitivity,” he said.
He concluded that while Sabah UMNO supports development and stability, it opposes administrations that evade criticism, lack transparency, or disregard public opinion.
“If the government truly follows Sabah Maju Jaya principles, it must answer questions professionally—not emotionally,” he added. – James Leong
