KUALA LUMPUR — With just two cars, six placards, and a shared determination, four women have quietly ignited a wave of political consciousness across Sabah ahead of the state election.
The citizen-led initiative, called Vote Wisely, was started by Angie S. Chin, a Sabahan living in Kuala Lumpur and founder of an impact travel platform.
Borneo Post reported that Angie was concerned by the flood of misleading messages and political propaganda circulating on WhatsApp; as such, she wanted to inspire reflection and dialogue among voters.
“Sabah has been denied its rights for over 60 years,” she said. “We’ve suffered from corruption, abuse of power, and being controlled from Peninsular Malaysia. I wanted to do something different — something that would make people stop, think, and talk.”
Angie was soon joined by three women who shared her vision: educator Willva Freddy, retiree Anna Matin, and insurance professional Syafiqah Izzan. Together, they pooled resources, rented a Proton Bezza, used a Myvi, and embarked on a road trip across the state, stopping at towns including Kinarut, Keningau, Tenom, Nabawan, Sipitang, Kudat, Ranau, and Kota Kinabalu.
At busy roundabouts, tamus, and public spaces, the women stood silently for up to an hour, holding placards urging citizens to vote wisely, reject corruption, and refuse to sell their votes.
Along the way, they carried a “Box of Hope”, asking ordinary Sabahans: “If you could be Chief Minister today, what three things would you do for Sabah?”
The handwritten responses, ranging from demands for improved infrastructure and education to calls for fair resource distribution and an end to corruption, will be compiled and presented to the next Chief Minister as a reminder of the public’s expectations.
The journey was not without challenges. In Tenom, the women faced hostility from political supporters, and in Ranau, they lost an hour after a police officer asked them to pose with their identity cards.
“We don’t mind showing identification, but being asked to pose with our ICs felt like a violation of personal information,” Angie said.
Despite the obstacles, the team continued, relying on friends’ homes for lodging, planning routes daily, and enduring the elements. “Rain or shine, we stood strong in silence — and every honk we received felt like a small victory,” Angie added.
Their travels revealed a shifting political landscape. While many voters still follow family traditions, younger Sabahans are increasingly seeking competent leaders who consistently demonstrate their commitment, not just during campaigns.
To support informed voting, Angie also launched VoteSabah.com, a free online platform allowing citizens to review their local assembly members’ track records and any associated controversies.
“Our biggest takeaway is that it’s not about how many people are on our team — it’s about the action we take,” Angie said.
“We may have been just four women with six placards, but we lit a spark. If more Sabahans take even a small step like this, we can create a wave that carries us into a better future.”
With the 17th Sabah State Election approaching, Angie urges voters to make deliberate choices: “Don’t make the same mistakes again. Vote wisely. Choose leaders who show up, who fight for Sabah, and who carry your hopes — not just their own ambitions.”
She hopes their initiative inspires others to act. “Sabahans have been denied for too long. This is our call to action — to vote wisely, not emotionally, and to choose leaders who will truly fight for Sabah.” — September 27, 2025