"SDO to take over from JPPS, says Musa." For Real?!

Is this for real? That the Federal Development Dept Sabah (JPPS) will be closed down and Sabah Development Office (SDO) will take over its functions? Not only the functions, but also honestly manage development funds from the Federal Government that are meant for Sabah? According to the Sabah Chief Minister, this seems to be in the works:

"SDO to take over from JPPS, says Musa
13 May, 2008
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Federal Development Department (JPPS) that has been the cause of discomfort among state leaders is now being slowly phased out with the re-introduction of the Sabah Development Office (SDO).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman has been tasked to look into the revival of the SDO, which has similar function as the JPPS.
The SDO, that will be under the jurisdiction of the Chief Minister's Department, was particularly active during Usno and Berjaya government era.
He said the re-introduction of the development office is part of the Federal Government's promise to do away with the JPPS." (Daily Express, 13/05/08)

Well, I've been harping on this issue of JPPS in my last few posts. I've been saying that they will never close JPPS because it is cashcow for a selected few. And I remain skeptical that this will really happen. If it does, it can ony mean two things:

1. The PM must be really in dire straits. He must be in a really, really desperate situation that he is willing to fulfil one of the promises he made to Sabahans. So the Anwar threat is looming large and near, is it? So much so that the PM is going to give in to one of the demands from Sabah? or
2. This revived SDO is only different in name. SDO will be manned by the same people, doing the same things over again. JPPS with a different name.

I was about to say, I'll take back my words, that I'll take back what I said about them not closing down JPPS. But, nothing is concrete yet. JPPS still exist. The CM only gave instructions to the State Secretary to look into the matter to revive SDO. SDO may never materialise. It could only be a carrot on a stick so that certain Sabah MPs will not 'frog' over to Pakatan Rakyat to enable Anwar Ibrahim to become the next Prime Minister of Malaysia come September 16, 2008. So, I will not take back my words, not just yet.

Still, if SDO does materialise, I'll probably still not take back my words. Because if SDO replaces JPPS, SDO might STILL be JPPS only with a different name. Remember, Sabah is demanding for oil royalty to be increased from 5% to 20%. Goodness, that should be about RM2 billion per year for Sabah. So, our cashcow has just gotten much, much fatter, eh? And the fat, fat cow will continue to enrich the same chosen few. Greater days are definitely coming for this chosen few, inspite of the skyrocketing prices for consumer goods and daily necessities, which the common Sabahans on the streets shiver to think about.

A small part of me want to believe in our elected leaders, but because of so much dirty, toxic water under the bridge, it is really difficult to get rid of this phobic instinct of distrust towards all Malaysian politicians, Sabahans included. So, we will see. We will wait and see. We will see if SDO is for real, and it is not a wolf in sheep's clothing. We will wait for SDO to be up and about doing its job, understanding the real needs of Sabahans and serving Sabahans in the true sense of the word. If and when all these become reality, then and only then will I take back my word.