SABAH BACK ON RIGHT TRACK FOR STRONGER DEVELOPMENT - HAJIJI

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) commitment to strengthening development and boosting state revenue over the last five years has put Sabah back on the right track, said its chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

The Chief Minister said the GRS-led Sabah government has set a comprehensive direction covering various aspects, including the economy, infrastructure, well-being, education, human capital development, and demonstrated firm resolve to settle the water supply issues it inherited.

“We have been able to spur economic activity across various sectors while providing assistance to students throughout Sabah. This education aid is the largest in Sabah’s history; in almost five years, we have spent RM1.3 billion, and likewise, we have increased the amount for scholarships.

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“We also sealed an agreement (commercial cooperation) with Petronas. State revenue has risen to RM7 billion compared with RM3 billion when we first took over the state government. Now it has exceeded RM8 billion. This is a major achievement and the people must recognise this,” he said.

He told reporters this after witnessing the handover of 1Borneo subsidiary grants to the United Sabah Islamic Association (USIA) at Menara Kinabalu here today.

Hajiji was commenting on the core of GRS’s confidence in winning more than 40 of the 55 seats it is contesting in the 17th Sabah State Election on Nov 29.

Yesterday, Hajiji said GRS was confident of securing a simple majority based on the strength of its party machinery, strong grassroots support and solid cooperation among all component parties within the coalition.

He said the coalition's development-oriented approach, including its commitment to enhancing the people’s well-being through monthly RM300 cash assistance for 100,000 recipients and the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) programme, can also influence voters to choose GRS.

“We hope our people understand this. Do not choose wrongly — if you choose wrongly, the problems will be ours. We are already on the right track to bring Sabah towards greater success and progress in the future,” he said.

Commenting on viral videos alleging corruption in mineral mining in Sabah, Hajiji said they were politically motivated and malicious.

“What corruption? We cancelled their applications for mineral exploration. Then afterwards, they released (the videos) because we did not approve them. All of this has malicious political motives, and the people must understand. We cannot live in such a situation. We want to move forward.

“That’s why the videos emerged. People from there are coming here to teach us. They should have discipline. Be polite when coming to another state to earn a living,” he said.

-- BERNAMA