Sabah Politics: Theatre for the People, Silence for the System

 

Tamil comedian Vadivelu once quipped in a film that the government and the opposition shout at each other for the public’s benefit, then retreat behind closed doors to drink and party together. It was meant as satire, but looking at Sabah politics today, one wonders if this is less comedy and more reality.

 

The Vistana Heights Saga

In December 2022, I lodged a complaint against fabricated “as-built” survey plans for Taman Puncak Vistana (Vistana Heights). Lembaga Juruukur Sabah (LJS) inspected the site in June 2023, yet nearly three years later, the inspection report has not been released. Their excuse? The report awaits “verification from the authority.” But when pressed, LJS refuses to name this mysterious authority.

 

I appealed directly to Datuk Shafie Apdal, under whose tenure the project was approved. He promised to follow up, but nothing came of it. Emails to the current Chief Minister, Datuk Hajiji Noor, have also gone unanswered. Both government and opposition leaders have failed to demand that LJS disclose the authority. The silence is deafening.

 

Government and Opposition – Both Missing in Action

This is not about one house. It is about accountability. If neither the ruling coalition nor the opposition can resolve a simple request—identifying the authority—how can Sabahans trust them with larger reforms? Their refusal to act suggests collusion or mutual convenience. Why risk exposing systemic rot when both sides benefit from keeping institutions unaccountable?

 

Vadivelu’s satire comes alive here: politicians perform outrage for the rakyat, but when real accountability is demanded, they retreat into silence. The theatre continues, but the people remain in the dark.

 

A Broader Pattern of Inertia

From my other writings, the pattern is clear:

 

Emails to YB Hajiji Noor in 2023 remain ignored, showing executive indifference.

 

Appeals to regulatory bodies—from the Surveyors Board to DBKK—are met with flimsy excuses and stonewalling.

 

Critiques of privatisation highlight how governance rhetoric masks bureaucratic inaction.

 

Together, these cases illustrate a culture of inertia protected by political silence. Institutions hide behind unnamed authorities, and politicians—whether in government or opposition—refuse to challenge them.

 

Why This Matters

Sabahans deserve leaders who break the collusion, not join the backstage party. If our politicians cannot even demand the name of a mysterious authority, are they truly fighting for us—or just performing for our applause before retreating to the same closed-door camaraderie Vadivelu mocked?

 

Closing Thought: 

The Vistana Heights case is a microcosm of Sabah’s political theatre. Until leaders confront the “mysterious authority” and demand transparency, the rakyat will remain spectators in a play staged for their consumption, while the real decisions are made behind closed doors.