Press statement by
Datuk Dr Roland Chia, Gagasan Rakyat N 18 Inanam Division chief.
I have read YB Justin Wong’s recent statement alleging that GRS has failed to manage Sabah’s economy.
Unfortunately, his argument is built on selective figures, presented in isolation to mislead the public.
2. The facts are very different. The Warisan administration (2018–2020) presided over the worst economic period in Sabah’s modern history.
Under Shafie Apdal, Sabah’s economy contracted sharply, plunging from RM85.6 billion in 2019 to RM77.8 billion in 2020, a loss of almost RM8 billion within a single year.
This represented a contraction of -9.1%, the steepest in decades.
That is the true legacy of Warisan: an economy in ruins.
3. In contrast, after GRS assumed office, Sabah began to recover steadily.
Growth rebounded from -9.1% in 2020 to +1.5% in 2021.
The recovery continued consistently, with positive growth of +3.9% in 2022, +1.3% in 2023, and +1.1% in 2024.
Today, Sabah’s economy has returned to RM84.3 billion, showing clear evidence of sustained recovery, not decline as Justin has suggested.
4. The issue of Sabah falling out of the nation’s “Top Six” state economies has also been misrepresented.
The difference with Perak, which benefitted from major spillover projects in the Klang Valley is marginal, at around 0.1–0.2%.
More importantly, Sabah has maintained positive growth even as it undertakes structural reforms under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan to build greater resilience against global economic volatility.
A temporary slowdown is natural when the economy is being reshaped for the long term.
5. Justin also omits the fact that Warisan’s performance had already deteriorated even before the pandemic.
Official DOSM data shows that Sabah’s growth rate collapsed from 8.1% in 2017 to just 1.5% in 2018,
and fell further to 0.7% in 2019.
This is clear evidence of weak management under Warisan, long before Covid-19 struck.
6. The public must not be deceived by the opposition’s numbers game.
Under Chief Minister Hajiji, GRS has worked to strengthen Sabah’s economic foundations.
From 2021 to 2024, the state economy has become more diversified, gradually reducing dependence on raw commodities.
This is the opposite of the fragile model inherited from Warisan.
7. Warisan continues to view the economy through a narrow, negative lens.
What they deliberately obscure are the more important indicators: between 2021 and 2024, Sabah’s growth has remained positive every year, state revenue has reached historic highs, and the state’s financial reserves have risen significantly.
8. The record speaks for itself.
In 2019 under Warisan, state revenue was only RM4.2 billion. Under GRS, revenue surged to nearly RM7 billion in both 2022 and 2023, the highest in Sabah’s history.
Likewise, financial reserves have grown from RM3.2 billion in 2019 to RM8.6 billion in 2024, an increase of more than 160%, or over two-and-a-half times.
This is clear proof of stronger fiscal management and prudent governance under GRS. If that is not success, then what is?
