KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has assured Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Sabah will cooperate fully with the Federal Government.
In congratulating Anwar for his appointment as the nation’s 10th Prime Minister, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman said the cooperation by the state was needed for the benefit and well-being of everyone.
He also expressed confidence that a close working relationship will be created between Sabah and Putrajaya to realise the various aspects of development, including efforts to deliver state rights as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Anwar’s vast experience will be able to bring about economic revival which is most needed by the people as well as development to the whole country in future,” he said in a brief statement here on Thursday (Nov 24).
He added that he hoped Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto will be properly implemented, including the empowering of Sabah and Sarawak.
Hajiji - whose five-party GRS won five seats in the just-concluded 15th General Election - had earlier on Monday (Nov 21) voiced GRS’ support for Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the 10th Prime Minister.
However, on Thursday, he said GRS was agreeable to the formation of a unity government as advised by the King.
He said that GRS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) agreed that there was an immediate need for the formation of a federal government.
"GRS is in line with GPS to agree to whatever the decision and advice of the King to set up a unity government for the unity and stability of the country and the people," he said in a statement.
Hajiji added that a unity government should be inclusive and include the governments of Sabah and Sarawak who have their own respective mandates to rule the state.
Meanwhile, Upko’s president-elect Datuk Ewon Benedick said that Anwar’s appointment as Prime Minister signaled a new era for Malaysia.
In congratulating the Pakatan Harapan chairman, Benedick pointed out that Anwar's appointment came at the right time.
“Malaysia needs a leader who can manage the economic problems plaguing the country now and subsequently who can implement the reform agenda in governance - that leadership exists in Anwar,” he said
“I also welcome the Unity Government that will involve participation from all parties, race and regions,” added Benedick in a statement on Thursday.
The Penampang MP also expressed hope to work closely with Anwar to implement Pakatan’s agenda, particularly on the fulfillment of MA63 as well as programmes to empower Sabahans.
Benedick said Upko, which is the only Sabah-based party in Pakatan, will propose to the new prime minister for the party to be included in the latter’s administration.
“This has been discussed in Upko’s supreme council meeting today. We will inform Anwar of suggestions from our party so we can play an important role in making Pakatan’s agenda in Sabah as well as Malaysia a success,” he said.
