KOTA KINABALU, 29 January 2023 – Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) will present concept papers, review proposals and strategies, within this year, to Sabah Chief Minister, regarding three key global and regional challenges which give impact to Sabah, i.e. Territorial Security, Energy Security and Food Security, said Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee.
Yong, who is the President of SAPP said the formation of three special committees has been approved in its last congress on 3 September 2022.
Territorial Security
“The first, Territorial Security, concerns the external threats to our territory.
“SAPP views that Sabah’s maritime territory should extend beyond 200 nautical miles in accordance with the 1954 North Borneo Order-in-Council.
“Actually, SAPP has been objecting to Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750) ever since 2018,” said Yong, while delivering his speech at SAPP 29th Anniversary celebration, at Dewan Hakka, here.
Yong praised Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor for being firm in protecting Sabah rights.
“In this context, SAPP is proud and fully supports the firm stand of YAB Chief Minister in rejecting this Act 750, (as) this Act limits the maritime territory to 3 nautical miles and restricts the capacity of Sabah to enforce our Sabah laws beyond the 3 nautical miles limit.
Energy Security
“Secondly, on Energy Security. Energy Security challenges arise from conflicts and wars.
“SAPP praises the Sabah government for the establishment of the Sabah Energy Commission (EcoS). It is a step to produce and to monitor and control our own energy sector.
“The two enactments approved by the Sabah Legislative Assembly recently show the commitment of the Sabah government under the leadership of Hajiji to ensure that our natural resources are managed by Sabah.
“As a coincidence, SESB also plans to develop the Regional Grid concept based on natural resources, whereby a series of mini and micro hydro-electric power generation can be considered.
“To exploit our natural gas in the west coast, our solar energy in the north and Biomass and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) in the East Coast of Sabah.
Yong said due to the projected increase in energy demand from 1,000 megawatt in 2023 to at least 1,200 megawatts in 2033, SAPP believes that the move away from fossil fuels to renewable energy such as hydro-electric, solar and biomass should be explored.
Food Security
“Thirdly, on Food Security, as we know, some countries face food shortages because of the breakdown in supply chain and other causes.
“Due to population increase and urbanization, Sabah is not exempted from food supply problems, especially during inflation, and over dependence on imports which amount to 40% of Sabah’s food supplies.
“Sabah is exposed to fluctuating prices and supply disruptions which will increase costs and burden the people.
“SAPP feels that to guarantee sufficient food supply, is not only to sustain the agriculture sector and increase domestic production but also require other long term measures such as gaining back Sabah’s right to import and export rice, so that the people can benefit from price stability,” Yong said.
At the same time, SAPP will continue to pursue the three main issues which Yong has raised at the Legislative Assembly on 22 March 2022, i.e. Sabah IC, the return of Labuan to Sabah, and release of the Double-Six air crash report.
He also reiterated, with the aspiration to develop Sabah as a competitive territory, SAPP also proposes that the English language be made an official language in Sabah.
“The use of English in Sabah and Sarawak is recognised officially ever since the formation of Malaysia under MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963). As a reference, English is still used as an official language in the courts in Sabah and Sarawak.
Yong said SAPP sees the “Sabah Maju Jaya” (SMJ) as a direction and concept that is very clear and beneficial to Sabah. SMJ is a slogan from the time of Sabah Merdeka and is being used again now.
Meanwhile, Yong said SAPP as a component of GRS declares its loyalty to GRS under the leadership of YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Bin Haji Noor.
“We are of the view that GRS should be strengthened as a coalition of Sabah local parties. In this respect, SAPP as a local party with proven resilience, can play a role in the constituencies concerned,” Yong affirmed.