Opposition can’t bring change to Sabah, says Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: The Opposition will not be able to bring much to help develop Sabah, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

“There is nothing the people can expect from the Opposition because they cannot bring about the change they are seeking,” he said during the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) roadshow in the Sabah east coast town of Lahad Datu.

Lahad Datu MP Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, who is also Segama assemblyman, quit Warisan to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia late last year, before quitting that party as well to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia last month.

The four state seats in the Lahad Datu parliamentary constituency remain under Warisan.

Hajiji, who is GRS chairman and Sabah Bersatu chief, told a crowd of about 4,000 people that voters in the area should vote wisely in the general election if they want real change.

“It is a fact that only elected representatives from the government can bring faster development and progress for the people of Lahad Datu,” he added.

Hajiji also said that GRS was open to accepting local parties that were interested in joining the coalition.

“GRS is fighting to ensure Sabah continues to progress and succeed, and is led by a coalition of local parties.

“If we love Sabah, this is the time for us to be united in GRS,” he said.

He added that GRS was working together with Umno-Barisan Nasional at the state level for the benefit of Sabah.

Hajiji also urged the leaders and members of GRS component parties in Lahad Datu to work hard and ensure that it wins the Lahad Datu parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election.

In addition to parliamentary seats, he said GRS also needs to ensure that it wins the state seats in Lahad Datu, now held by the Opposition, in the next state election, which is not due until 2025.

At least four Opposition parties have applied to join GRS, which currently has five parties.

The Lahad Datu GRS event on Monday was the third leg of the roadshow after the Keningau and Kudat parliamentary constituencies.