KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR is fully backing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to continue leading the state government and opposes any move to topple him that could lead to a crisis in the state.
Sabah PKR secretary Sazalye Donol Abdullah said that the party fully supported and trusted Hajiji to continue leading the state as he played a crucial role in strengthening the economy, as well as stabilising the political situation in Sabah.
"Sabah PKR strongly opposes any effort to bring down the government led by Hajiji as it would result in political instability and can lead to a fresh political crisis in Sabah," he said in a statement Sunday (Jan 12).
"We have full confidence and believe that Hajiji can lead Sabah in the right and progressive direction," he said.
"We fully support the leadership of Hajiji as the leader of the state government because of his crucial and direct role that helped in the formation of the unity government at the federal level (after the 2022 general election)," he added.
Sazalye reiterated that Sabah PKR would continue its cooperation with Hajiji's state government in the coming state election.
The statement comes amid moves by Sabah DAP who last month said that it wanted to review Sabah Pakatan's cooperation with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) following the emergence of videos alleging corruption that were linked to certain GRS assemblymen.
However, the issue reviewing Sabah Pakatan relations with the GRS state government took a backseat, when Sabah Pakatan saw a leadership change with Upko president Datuk Ewon Ebin taking over as Sabah Pakatan chairman from state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew of PKR.
Sabah Pakatan forged a coalition with GRS after Sabah Barisan Nasional led by Datuk Bung Moktar Radin pulled out of the state coalition government in Jan 2023.
Hajiji survived the political coup with Sabah Pakatan assemblymen and defectors from Sabah Barisan to hold on to the state government with a simple majority.
Hajiji has since strengthened his position.