KUCHING: Sabah would require a strong “Sabah First” coalition with a dominant mandate if it is serious about emulating Sarawak’s revenue-driven governance model, according to an academic.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s political analyst, Datuk Dr Lee Kuok Tiung, said the idea of replicating the so-called “Sarawak model” represents a high-stakes political and structural challenge for Sabah.
He was commenting on remarks by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who said the Sabah Government is looking to adopt the approach used by Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in strengthening revenue generation and delivering assistance to the people.
Armizan had noted that Sabah’s revenue, which stood at about RM4 billion in 2020 and had remained stagnant for over a decade, rose to nearly RM7 billion within five years under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s administration.
Lee said the growing political discourse around the “Sarawak model” reflects Sabah’s increasing ambition, particularly following Sabah PRN17, where Sarawak’s governance approach has been widely cited as a reference point.
He said Sarawak’s revenue has grown from about RM10 billion in 2020 to a projected RM13.5 billion in 2025, while Sabah’s own revenue has also improved from RM4 billion to RM7 billion over the same period.
However, he stressed that achieving Sarawak’s scale would require overcoming significant structural and political constraints.
“Thus, for Sabah to emulate Sarawak, it needs a ‘Sabah First’ coalition capable of winning a dominant mandate,” he told Sarawak Tribune when contacted.
He noted that Sabah has followed Sarawak’s lead in implementing the 5 per cent State Sales Tax (SST) on petroleum products, which contributed to its recent revenue increase.
However, he said Sarawak’s advantage lies in its stronger resource base, particularly higher natural gas production and a more diversified energy portfolio.
He added that Sarawak is also advancing rapidly in renewable energy, including hydropower development such as the Bakun Dam, as well as emerging investments in green hydrogen involving international partners from Japan and South Korea.
“In comparison, Sabah is developing its own initiatives such as the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), but it still lacks the integrated energy infrastructure that Sarawak has built over decades,” he said.
Lee said Sabah is also pushing for greater fiscal autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) framework to strengthen its development agenda.
He also agreed with Armizan’s view that political stability is Sarawak’s greatest advantage, saying it remains a key foundation behind the state’s sustained economic performance and revenue expansion.
