KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah state assembly has concluded its business for the current term, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, paving the way for the next state election.
The Chief Minister on Tuesday (July 8), when asked if the sitting that just ended was the last, replied with a grin, "More or less, yes."
He said it would be up to the people to give the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) another chance to govern as they had implemented initiatives and programmes to help the people and the state.
“We have done our best to bring development, address infrastructure woes, provide welfare aid to the poor, students and needy people.
“It is now up to the people to choose whether they want to give another chance to GRS,” Hajiji added.
When pressed on when he would be dissolving the state assembly, Hajiji urged for patience.
“If we have set a time, we will call to announce it. Be patient, not much longer,” he said.
When queried whether there would be an automatic dissolution (after the five-year term ends on Nov 11), Hajiji again repeated not to ask whether it would be automatic or not.
“Let me dream first, on when the best time would be,” he said, keeping to his often-repeated answer of ‘tunggu saya mimpi dulu (wait for me to dream first)’.
Earlier, the Sulaman assemblyman said seat allocations and negotiations were still being fine-tuned, with meetings held with ‘friends’, referring to Pakatan Harapan allies at the moment.
“Others, we will see about it later on,” said Hajiji, adding that the final seat arrangements should be decided before the assembly is dissolved.
During the state assembly, a massive RM1.186bil supplementary Bill was passed for immediate infrastructure needs of the state, including the pressing water problem.
The state also passed a comprehensive State Sales Tax Amendment, Climate and Carbon governance enactment, while another amendment - Forest Enactment - allowed for the creation of 40 villages with a combined population of over 12,000 by degazetting forest reserves in seven districts.
Earlier on Tuesday, the assembly was told that the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 plan has delivered significant results, with 94% of its initiatives - from housing and healthcare to job creation and student aid- now implemented.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan reported that 366 out of 467 initiatives under the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan—launched in 2021—had been fully completed as of May this year.
