BN-backed Sabah govt looks forward to growing in strength

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government will only stabilise and grow stronger, with Barisan Nasional expressing its support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Hajiji praised Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir for the coalition’s support for his government.

“This means the state government will be stronger in the unity government helmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” he said after launching a Malaysia Madani seminar here yesterday.

Zamry had announced the bloc’s support by placing Sabah Umno deputy chairman Datuk Yakubah Khan as a liaison for the state government on its development agenda, among other things.

Asked if this meant he would forget the grudges he or the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government had with Barisan, Hajiji said there was no point in holding grudges because what mattered was the state’s and its people’s well-being.

“That is the main purpose of leaders and politicians. We need to focus on unity and the development of the state to boost economic activities for the betterment of the people and their livelihoods,” he said.

On whether Sabah Barisan or Umno have approached him for discussions about the state’s future, he said, “we will wait and see”.

Hajiji added that he was fine with the appointment of Yakubah as the spokesperson for Sabah Umno.

“I am open to these changes, and there is nothing wrong because my focus is to develop the state and unite the people,” he said.

He said it was vital that the state could work as one to ensure that development plans under the Sabah Maju Jaya initiative are carried out smoothly.

Earlier in the event, the chief minister said the Malaysia Madani government concept introduced by Anwar was in line with existing and ongoing Sabah Maju Jaya development initiatives implemented by the state.

The concept, which Anwar introduced officially on Jan 19, was based on six pillars: sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust, and compassion.

However, there is a need for the Malaysia Madani concept to be moulded according to the local context of Sabah so that it would be inclusive, relevant and fitting to the overall setting in Sabah, he said.

He said he believes that for a true “Madani nation” to be formed, it needs to include the principles of social justice, economic empowerment, cultural beliefs, human rights, and freedom of speech.

As a state with diverse history, geography, and ethnic backgrounds, Sabah can take the frontline position to showcase these concepts in the Malaysia Madani concept, Hajiji said.

He said the seminar was timely as it could create awareness about the concept, how it should be implemented, and what would make it work from the grassroots to the top management levels in the state.