The first time Joebonaventure Matius cast his vote in 2013, politicians promised pristine roads and an end to the blight of power and water shortages that were common occurrences for the young resident from a rural part of Malaysia’s Sabah state.
He has since voted three more times for these politicians in his district of Telupid, hoping that their pledges to fix the persistent problems would be realised.
But years on, the roads are still potholed, the lights continue to flicker on and off, and the water supply remains erratic whenever he makes the 200km drive to his hometown from the state’s capital city, Kota Kinabalu, where he lives and works.
“It is just frustrating,” Joebonaventure told This Week in Asia. “We have different people in charge now, but somehow they never solve the problems.”
Chief Minister Hajiji Noor may dissolve the state assembly next month in Sabah, paving the way for polls – the first in a series between now and next year, with their outcome likely to signal the level of support for the federal government and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The state in northern Borneo, which can be reached via a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Peninsular Malaysia, is a key base for Anwar, who is likely to seek a fresh mandate in 2027.
