Young Sabahans want income to stay in state
KOTA KINABALU: Young Sabahans want the state's newly elected government to ensure most of the income generated in Sabah remains there.
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Mass Communication student Natasha Syafiqah Rokei 22, said it was time for Sabahans to fully enjoy the income generated by Sabah.
“A lot of income generated here in Sabah is being chanelled out of the state.
“We Sabahans want what is rightfully ours to be used to develop Sabah which is still very backward in many aspects,” said Natasha Syafiqah who is from Lahad Datu.
Livyria Jusmin, 24, who is from Sandakan, said she hoped the change in government will benefit the people of Sabah.
“What happened was a big surprise and it has given Sabahans hope that our state will also change for the better,” said the student who is pursuing a degree in music at UiTM.
Real Estate Management student Maria Mohd Yasin, 22, also from Lahad Datu said she was confident newly appointed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Mohd Shafie Hj Apdal will lead the state towards success.
“I have family in Semporna and we know him very well.
“He is a humble man who listens to the people,” said the 22-yearold.
Maria added she also hoped the Sabah state government will come up with a programme to educate people in Peninsular Malaysia about Sabahans in general.
“There are still many people here who think Sabahans live on trees and in dense jungles,” she said.
Twenty-two-year-old Emila Edrin from Lahad Datu said she hoped Shafie would bring employment to Sabah.
“Many of our youths are unemployed.
“They need jobs as they have sunk into poverty because they have no source of income.
“I am confident Datuk Seri Shafie will do something to generate more jobs and upgrade our socio-econoic status,” she said.
For 23-year-old music undergraduate Hasan Doneh, Sabah's infrastructure must be made top prioriy by the state government.
“Sabah is still very backwards in terms of infrastructure.
“We no longer want our state to be left behind.
“A big change has happened in the state government and we want Sabah to change for the better in terms of infrastructure,” he said.
Hasan, who is from Tawau, said Sabah should be able to financially afford to upgrade itself.
Maria, Emila and Hasan are also UiTM undergraduates.
All five undergraduates attended a breaking of fast ceremony with Shafie organised by the Sabah Foundation at the Setia City Convention Centre in Klang on Thursday evening.