Sabah in safe, stable hands, no need for politicking, says Masidi

Photo: Bernama

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is in safe and stable hands, says Gabungan Rakyat Sabah secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

He said Sabah always seemed to hold elections every two years, and this was tiring and annoying for the people and not a good way for the state to operate.

He said that this must stop, and elected representatives should be able to carry out their duties as mandated by the people and to finish their terms before an election was called.

"We have wasted so much time in politicking, some of it needless. We need to work and to deliver," Masidi said.

He hoped the leaders would be able to do their job properly, and to have the time to complete what they had started.

"We need to focus on reviving the economy. If you focus your time on actually working, you can bring in the needed investments," Masidi said.

He said that in recent years, even during the pandemic, the state government had managed to bring in billions of ringgit worth of investment, the latest being the multi-billion ringgit steel industry investment in Sipitang by a China company.

He said Sabah leaders were working together to ensure that the development of the state and welfare of the people were taken care of.

Masidi said the current governance was stable and the people were in good hands, and hoped that there were no more attempts to invalidate or disrupt the state's governance until it was time to call for the state election in three years.

He was speaking at the Kinabalu Press Awards ceremony here on Sunday (Dec 18), prior to delivering the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s speech for the event.

In his speech, Hajiji expressed his appreciation and gratitude to media practitioners for their work and dedication in bringing news of development, government policies and voices of the people to the public.

He said it was vital that media practitioners share only factual information and to write news that help shape the thinking of the community, and to do so with professionalism.

He said with the digital age moving so fast ahead and information just a click away, it was necessary for the media to play their part in disseminating correct news.

On the Kinabalu Press Awards, Hajiji said this prestigious ceremony continues to stay relevant in recognising and acknowledging the works of journalists, be it the print, digital or broadcasting media.

He hoped this platform would continue to push media practitioners to be better in their scope of work, to deliver news factually and ethically and to be a part of nation building together with the government and its policies.