Sabah scandal: Muda urges angry youths to do more than vent online

Summary

• Sabah Muda acting chairperson Faezrah Rahman says the younger generation must rise and kick out the same old leaders.

• She also calls for speaker Kadzim Yahya to resign over the shocking and disgraceful video.

Corruption is not a new issue, and Sabahans can no longer afford to be mere spectators, said Muda’s acting state chairperson Faezrah Rizalman.

“If we continue to ignore it, nothing will change - the same leaders, the same politics, the same problems. The responsibility to reform this system now rests with our generation,” she stated.

Faezrah (above) was responding to the latest - ninth - video released in connection with a businessperson’s allegations that he bribed several assemblypersons to secure mineral exploration licenses.

The latest recording and leaked WhatsApp messages implicated state legislative assembly speaker Kadzim Yahya.

According to the Muda leader, it is pointless for youths to express frustration on social media while abstaining from voting or repeatedly electing the same leaders.

“The younger generation must not only rise against corruption but also elect leaders who can ensure sustainable development for Sabah and secure a better future for everyone.

“I believe only the current generation truly understands the needs of today's society. We need better job opportunities, a stronger economy, dignified wages, and policies that are relevant and beneficial to the people - not decisions made without understanding the realities of modern life,” she emphasised.

Faezrah pointed out that while neighbouring states discuss advancements in AI, science, and technology, Sabah is still grappling with issues of abuse of power and corruption, which benefit only a select few.

“So, the younger generation must be angry. But anger alone will not take us anywhere. Now is the time to challenge the political reality of our state, question the status quo, and demand leadership that genuinely understands and acts on the issues that matter today,” she added.

While voting is crucial, merely replacing leaders without holding them accountable will not bring about meaningful change, she warned.

“We must question them, challenge them, and make them realise that the people’s mandate is not a license to continue old political habits. Change may take time, but it is impossible if we do not start now. Otherwise, 25 years from now, we may still be discussing the same issues,” she said.

‘Kadzim must resign’

As a first step, Faezrah called for Kadzim’s resignation as speaker to uphold the dignity and integrity of the state assembly. She described the latest video and WhatsApp messages as not only shocking but also disgraceful.

“The state assembly, which should embody transparency and accountability, is now tainted - especially when its highest-ranking official is linked to a corruption scandal,” she said.

Faezrah also posed a deeper question: Who is truly at fault?

“Should voters be blamed for electing these leaders to represent the people’s voices? Or is it our political system that is fundamentally broken, allowing corruption to take such deep root that it has become the norm in politics?

“The reality is that Sabah’s leaders today are the same people who have been in power for decades. They switch parties and positions, but the political culture remains unchanged. Only the colour of their hair has changed,” she remarked.

She likened the state’s leadership to an exclusive club that perpetuates the same cycle repeatedly.

“That is why many Sabahans choose to be indifferent. ‘What’s the point of voting? Iri om iri’ (It’s always the same). But the question is - until when?

“This is why new voices must emerge - not just to replace individuals, but to ensure that new leadership consists of people with genuine integrity who serve the people,” she stressed.

Kadzim’s denial

Kadzim has denied the corruption allegations against him, claiming he was unaware of the RM350,000 mentioned in the video.

As for the RM50,000 described as a “cash advance” in the leaked WhatsApp messages, the speaker stated that he had merely borrowed the sum from the businessperson after losing his wallet.

However, he did not clarify his message, which stated, “Can also just offset it (amount) from what is due to me.”

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