Divergent paths and destiny taken by three Borneon States in 1963.
By Datuk James Ligunjang JP, Former State Assemblyman for Petagas.
KOTA KINABALU, (Wed Aug 2): Brunei chose not to join the formation of Malaysia in 1963 due to fears of domination by Malaya.
Since then, Brunei has experienced significant economic growth and development, becoming one of the top twenty richest countries in the world. This highlights the divergent paths taken by these three Borneon States in 1963.
Brunei’s economic growth has primarily been fuelled by its oil and gas reserves. The government has effectively managed these resources, investing in infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
As a result, Brunei has seen improvements in the standard of living, with its population enjoying a higher level of prosperity compared to Sabah and Sarawak.
Brunei is now the richest country in the world, with a per capita GDP of $79,800.
Additionally, Bruneians benefit from no income tax, free medical services, interest-free bank loans, and free education, including scholarships for foreign universities.
The main difference between Brunei and Sabah/Sarawak lies in the management and distribution of resources.
While Brunei has utilised its resources effectively for the benefit of its people, Sabah and Sarawak have had their resources taken away from them to develop the Malayan states, resulting in economic stagnation and impoverished populations.
The lack of infrastructure development in Sabah and Sarawak has limited their potential for growth.
Poor transportation networks, limited access to basic services, and inadequate healthcare and education facilities have hindered their overall development and contributed to the economic disparities between these states and the rest of Malaysia.
The excessive control exerted by the Federal Government on Sabah and Sarawak has also affected economic growth in these states.
It is argued that the federal government has limited the states’ autonomy and decision-making power, preventing them from effectively addressing local issues and implementing policies that would benefit their populations.
In order to address the grievances of Sabah and Sarawak and promote greater development in these states, devolution and decentralization of federal powers are necessary.
The federal government must provide the necessary funding to improve infrastructure, healthcare, and education standards in order to bridge the economic gap between Sabah and Sarawak and the Malayan states.
With the devolution and decentralization of powers to Sabah and Sarawak it is hoped that significant economic progress could be achieved to a certain level of prosperity as Brunei.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of Talantang Sabah News Online.
