By: [Mohd Khairy Abdullah @ DG Henry]
SOOK (Sabah, Malaysia, 24 July 2025): An open dialogue held today between the rural youth of Sook and UPKO Sook leadership was more than a routine engagement — it was a clear signal that the political landscape in Sabah’s interior is undergoing a shift in narrative. Beneath the surface of underdeveloped infrastructure and limited opportunity lies a growing wave of awareness among young people — and UPKO Sook appears poised to harness this as a strategic strength.
Sook, located deep within the Pensiangan parliamentary constituency, mirrors many remote communities across Sabah that have long remained on the periphery of national development. While the rest of the country discusses artificial intelligence, digital economies, and foreign investments, young people in Sook are still grappling with:
- Limited access to basic amenities, particularly internet connectivity;
- Restricted access to quality education and skilled teachers;
- A subsistence-based economy with few pathways for growth;
- Exclusion from political processes and a lack of leadership platforms.
These are not new problems. What made today’s engagement different was the clarity and urgency in the youth’s voices — and the willingness of UPKO Sook to not only listen, but respond with policy direction. That, in the context of rural politics, is significant.
As a party rooted in the Kadazandusun Murut community, UPKO Sook is now repositioning itself with a renewed focus on rural youth development. The announcement of various initiatives — including the establishment of TVET training centers, digital empowerment campaigns, and a “Youth Political School” — indicates a forward-looking shift in strategy.
However, the road ahead is complex. To transform rhetoric into reality, UPKO Sook must:
- Demonstrate consistent policy implementation beyond election cycles;
- Embed youth in actual power structures, not just as event participants;
- Challenge entrenched patronage systems that hinder the rise of independent, principled youth leaders.
If successful, UPKO could dismantle longstanding patterns of ethnic-based rural politics and introduce a new model — one driven by capability, vision, and equity.
Demographically, Sabah is one of the youngest states in Malaysia, with over 40% of its population under the age of 30. In rural districts like Sook, this percentage is even higher. Yet, this massive demographic has yet to be translated into meaningful political capital or development leverage.
What emerged today, however, suggests a turning point. Young people in Sook are not just asking for educational and economic access — they are demanding recognition as development partners. They no longer want to be seen as passive recipients of aid but as proactive agents of change.
The reality is that rural transformation cannot occur without honest and courageous political investment. If UPKO Sook is sincere in placing rural youth at the core of its development strategy, several priorities must be immediately addressed:
- Institutionalising youth roles in policymaking at the local level;
- Ensuring equitable digital infrastructure as a prerequisite for economic participation;
- Positioning places like Sook as pilot sites for community-driven development, not just administrative statistics.
This is not merely a political contest. It is a national development imperative — to place Sabah’s interior on a fair and sustainable growth trajectory.
What happened in Sook today should not be viewed only through a local lens. It is a litmus test of Malaysia’s commitment to inclusive development and meaningful rural transformation. The youth of Sook no longer want to be heard — they want to be involved, empowered, and given the right to lead.
UPKO may have only taken its first step, but if it follows through with political courage and administrative integrity, Sook could very well become a national model for rural youth development — not just in Sabah, but across the country.
