KOTA KINABALU: There was no victimisation of officers or chief executive officers in state agencies when Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) took over the state government five years ago, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He stated that when he took over the reins of government five years ago from his predecessor Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, he met the officers involved and told them they should continue to serve the government.
He said the GRS approach was very different from the two-year Warisan government rule, where there was a lot of pressure and grudge against those who did not agree.
"When they (Warisan) took over the government, they did not think of the people, but they cut off, vengefully and pressured people. I was Chief Minister for almost five years, I never mistreated anyone even though some of the officers were appointed by the Warisan government," he said during a gathering in Kudat.
Hajiji said that the current water problems that occurred in Sabah during the GRS administration were actually caused by the previous Warisan government's actions in terminating eight water concession companies.
"Why do we have problems now, especially the water problem? Do you know that when Warisan took over the government, they terminated eight concession companies that were in charge of water.
"As a result, the companies involved took the matter to court and the government lost and paid RM315mil to them, with no benefits," he said, adding that the GRS government had been putting in place programmes to overcome the problem.
He said various projects worth over RM680mil were being implemented to increase water supply to consumers currently affected by water shortages as well as other infrastructure projects.
"People must know what we are doing and don't listen to social media saying that GRS has failed, claiming that there is no water, the roads are potholed with Hajiji's face sticking out there," he said.
Hajiji said Warisan's government also terminated the consultant company Pan Borneo Highway Project in Sabah that saw the highway projects delayed by about four years.
He said that Warisan policies and decisions in its two years of government were damaging to the progress plans and "now they sit in opposition and blame the Gagasan government for all the ills."
Hajiji urged people to fully maintain the current Gagasan-Pakatan government in the coming state election due to be called anytime before Nov 12.
