Sabah is a developing State within Malaysia. As such the Sabah State Government has to be responsive and accommodative to the various divergent expectations and demands of the people while ensuring that the State’s scarce resources are optimally used and equitably distributed. For this purpose, the Sabah State Government needs objective advice and second opinion based on independent research and analyses to supplement and complement its existing sources of information and research capabilities. IDS was created to assist the Sabah State Government to tap ideas and opinions, and also to analyse public policy proposals before they are implemented. As such, the Sabah State Government can enhance the quality of its decision-making process and thereby improve its policies and programs for the overall benefit of the State, the nation and the people.