I HAVE always stood by the principle of loyalty and integrity because that is what makes a good politician.
Loyalty to the people you work for and those you work with. Integrity in carrying out responsibilities diligently, with full commitment and not for selfish desires.
This was why I stand firm that we should not sabotage friends in politics. This was how I was taught as a politician.
I am not one who will abandon my people, my friends, my peers, my colleagues, my beliefs, and my political affiliation — for selfish desires.
This is why in my career in politics, I put the people first and my team — Barisan Nasional — as my guide to what I do and what I have to do as a politician.
When I was tasked by the BN leadership with taking over the helm of Sabah as the chief minister in 2003, my priority was to ensure the people prospered and progressed with the nation.
I took a look at our strengths and weaknesses before putting in place the “Halatuju” or state agenda to focus on the tourism, manufacturing and agriculture sectors where we have the advantage.
Tourism because we have natural wonders all around us. We have beautiful beaches, islands, Mount Kinabalu, our pristine forests and friendly people, each with unique cultures and traditions that are attractive to visitors.
We have come a long way in the industry — 3.74 million visitors and RM7.8 billion in tourism receipts last year, with bright prospects of growing further in the years to come with infrastructural plans put forth.
In setting Halatuju back then, I also took into consideration the vast resources in Sabah that could be economically tapped with more focus on the manufacturing sector.
Similarly, in the agricultural sector, the natural progression for the people of Sabah, many of whom are already traditional farmers, was to bring in modern technology and methods so that we could get optimum impact.
With all these, the need to empower the people to get more involved came about and this was why human resource development was also given emphasis.
Having put all these in place, the Sabah BN-led government could move on towards resolving issues that hindered the state and its people from moving forward.
Programmes to eradicate poverty were put in place such as the Mini Estet Sejahtera (Mesej) project where agricultural development is plotted in pockets of areas to help people progress, especially the hardcore poor.
Alhamdulillah, there are now 52 Mesej projects and many are leading better lives. The poverty rate in Sabah now stands at 2.9 per cent .
Then there was the issue of acknowledging the native community’s rights to own land that they toiled and lived on from the time of their forefathers.
For this reason the government introduced the Communal Land scheme and later the Native Land Administrative Services or PANTAS in 2011.
Up to August last year, 72 communal grants have been issued benefitting 10,462 people from 213 villages across Sabah. The total size of land they now own stretches nearly 120,000 hectares.
Through PANTAS, 21, 378 titles were issued for land totalling more than 36,000 hectares in 92 villages. It makes me happy each time I attend an event where the land titles are handed over to the landowners because I can see how grateful they are.
These are just a fraction of what the Sabah BN government has done over the years and our achievements in empowering the people, strengthening the economy, security and developing the state, is an open book for all to evaluate.
But as the 14th General Election nears, there are people who spread lies that Sabah is the poorest state and there are also those who want to do away with the government initiative to provide land if they win.
These are lies and propaganda that aim to confuse people with what the BN government has achieved over the years.
This is where you see the true colours of politicians who play dirty by spreading lies, twisting facts and hurling unfounded accusations.
They shout slogans for change — but for what? They want the rights of the state returned but fail to tell that Sabah BN has moved far ahead in that effort.
As the Sabah BN chief, I will focus the campaign on reminding people about what the coalition has done for them, the achievements, the plans and our vision for the future.
All our pledges, commitment and determination are laid out in the Sabah BN 14th General Election manifesto and the National BN manifesto.
It’s all about transforming the people, the state and the nation.
The writer is the chief minister of Sabah.