SANDAKAN – Chin Pheng Ho, who has been away from his hometown for years, still believes that home is where the heart is.
Not a day goes by without him missing his home and parents here. And it was not the bright city lights that drew him away, but the need for a job that paid better and matched his qualification as a degree holder in computer engineering.
“I miss home, and I miss my parents. But I had no choice but to move out of Sandakan to secure a better-paying job,” said Chin, who has been living in a rented room in Kuala Lumpur for the past three years and earns RM3,500 per month.
He is one of Sandakan’s many youth who have moved out of the district to cities like Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur seeking better jobs and wages, no thanks to Sabah’s dwindling economy, which has dampened employment.
Famazi Gazali said he is now earning a daily wage after the hotel he worked for closed permanently in May last year.
The 29-year-old said he does odd jobs, minor repairs, and body work on cars.
“What I earn today is what my family and I eat today,” said the father of one, adding that he makes between RM500 and RM800 per month.
Fazami said he was unable to register as an e-hailing driver as his Perodua Kancil did not make the cut.
“With that car, I tried becoming a runner. I charged people for my service delivering items and running errands.
“However, the car maintenance costs for the job increased, so I stopped.
“After 11 months without a permanent job, I am still seeking an opportunity, especially now with my second child on the way. But it is difficult to find a job in Sandakan. I tried to apply for a job as a waiter, but I was told that I was too old.”
Fazami said he thought about moving out of the district, or even Sabah, to secure a stable job, but the living costs in a bigger city are higher.
There are limited vacancies in Sandakan requiring higher qualifications.
Most non-sales vacancies offer minimum wage, and one only needs to have an identity document to get hired.
With the younger generation migrating, the district has become a place for retirees, with some older folk running small businesses, and others working as farmers and fishermen.
Senior citizen Chan Fong Ling said her sons, aged 32 and 36, are staying put to help the family business – a grocery store in town.
She said they each hold a degree in computer engineering from Kuala Lumpur and a diploma in business administration from Australia, but chose to return.
“Their case is typical in Sandakan. Most of my friends who have their own businesses are doing the same.
“Our children have high qualifications, but still return to run the family business. Some will stay overseas for good if they get married and start a family there.
“We all know that family businesses have to be inherited, so their higher learning certificates are mostly for them to gain experience and social skills, and have a ‘back-up’ in the future, in case the business comes to an end.”
Mason Lee, 27, disagrees with the notion that Sandakan lacks job opportunities.
Despite moving to Kota Kinabalu to take up a purchasing manager’s post, he said there are plenty of vacancies in Sandakan, but he elected to move out for career growth.
“Yes, jobs in Sandakan offer lower pay. But you cannot deny that there are opportunities, and the low pay is still reasonable due to the lower living costs in the district.
“For example, a vacancy for an administration officer would be minimum wage in Sandakan, but could go up to RM2,000 in Kota Kinabalu.
“But living costs in Kota Kinabalu are arguably higher than in Sandakan, so there is not much difference in terms of living standards.”
Lee said he enjoys adventurous and challenging jobs, thus his decision to move to the state capital. – The Vibes, May 31, 2021
