Sabah Priority Issues: Setting The Course For Change, 3rd print

This book - 'Sabah Priority Issues, Set ting the Course for Change' (SPISCC)  offers a more insightful overview on Sabah, which was outlined in ' Towards 2057, Setting the National Agenda' (Towards 2057 SNA). Towards 2057 SNA was launched in March 2009, and has since served as one of the national 'principal blueprints' under the administration of the sixth Malaysian Prime Minister; Datuk Seri Najib Abd Razak.

The formulation of lMalaysia concept, for instance, is partially based on this document. SPISCC was initiated with the aim, to reemphasise these identified priority issues so that their significance is fully understood and acknowledged; and ultimately their relevance could be well embedded within the national context. SPISCC strongly argues that although the processes and patterns (of these identified issues) are unique to Sabah, the dimensions (where they operate ) are never isolated from the national socio- economic-political system. The real underlying nature of the issues, in terms of causes and implications, go beyond its physical location - Borneo.

There are still sentiments and beliefs that some of the state's nightmares are somewhat the result of the federal government's dreams. 'Sharing and caring ' still seems an elusive concept when it comes to state-federal relationship. This book explores the dimensions and outlooks of the issues; and models the inter-connect ion of each one of them . When strategising a way forward, we should perhaps align the starting point along the right line of thinking: these are local problems that need both local and national actions.

It is important to note that this book is neither a comprehensive story of Sabah's dilemma, nor a blueprint for policy-making. SPISCC simply draws  the big picture of various priority issues in Sabah.