KOTA KINABALU: Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has questioned the timing of the RM300 cash aid under the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat (Syukur) programme.

“Take the RM300 if they give it – it’s your money, not theirs. But don’t let it decide your future. Sabah needs real solutions, not election-season giveaways,” he said during a Warisan event in Kampung Beringgis, Papar on Sunday (Feb 23), where five new branches were launched in the Kawang state constituency.

Mohd Shafie questioned the timing of the Syukur programme, a state initiative providing RM300 monthly cash assistance to 100,000 recipients until December 2025.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had said the RM358.5mil aid package was to ease financial burdens but Shafie claimed such assistance only appears close to election time.

Shafie also challenged the government’s claims about jobs being created due to the state’s economic growth.

“They say they created 3,000, 4,000 jobs – but do they realise that over 30,000 graduates enter the job market every year? Where are these jobs? Our young people are leaving … what opportunities do they have here?” he said.

He accused the government of failing to retain local talent and create sustainable industries, saying many Sabahans remain in poverty despite the state’s vast resources.

He also said more needs to be done to ensure Sabah has control over its natural resources.

“We have the most oil in Malaysia, yet we’re borrowing money to fix water problems? Where is our share of the wealth?” he questioned.

Reaffirming Warisan’s commitment to Sabah’s self-governance, he argued that Peninsular-based parties should not dictate the state’s future.

“When Sabah formed Malaysia, we didn’t have Umno, PKR, or Bersatu. Our leaders built this state without outside control. Why should we now depend on parties from the Peninsular to decide our future?

“The power to shape Sabah’s future is in your hands – not in Kuala Lumpur, not with politicians who jump from party to party. It is with you. Use your vote wisely,” he said.

He also called on Sabahans to put aside racial and religious differences, stressing that governance should be about helping all people, not dividing them.

“It does not matter if you are Bajau, Kadazan, Dusun, Chinese or Murut. We are all Sabahans,” he said.