Close look: Anwar and Hajiji meeting with Tuaran community leaders and entrepreneurs during a community engagement session. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
PM: Strong federal ties driver of state growth
TUARAN: Strong ties between Putrajaya and Kota Kinabalu is the key to resolving long-standing issues in the state, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as he joined hands with caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in the final sprint for polling day.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia’s progress is not simply the fruit of his own effort but a result of the strong team supporting him through ministries and state governments.
“It is all down to teamwork and for this reason, we need strong federal-state relations, especially a Sabah government that can work well with the Federal Government for the people,” he said at a meet-the-people session in Sulaman.
Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, said Putrajaya’s relationship with the current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led administration had facilitated talks over Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement.
“This is how we work. The state government led by Hajiji makes it easy for us to cooperate.
“This makes it easier to implement the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
Revealing that Hajiji has a direct line to him, the Prime Minister called on the people to continue to support the former.
“Give him a chance and we will resolve everything once and for all,” said Anwar.
He then chided those who had used supposed “anti-Federal” sentiments during the campaign period.
The Prime Minister said he does not support politics based on hostility and hatred, as it does nothing to alleviate the people’s hardship..
“There is no need to fight. Whenever this happens, it is the people who will suffer,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said cooperating with Pakatan is the formula for Sabah’s success.
“Why must we tussle with the Federal Government? While we continue looking after Sabah, we also have to think about the bigger picture,” he said, hitting back at those claiming the current infrastructure issues faced by Sabah were due to the GRS administration.
“How can they say we failed to resolve it if it was already present since before?”
GRS is in an electoral pact with Pakatan, which has drawn flak from state figures, including Opposition leader Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
At a townhall with youths in Inanam, the Prime Minister said Sabah’s youths must be equipped with knowledge and skills.
“An educated generation not only improves their own lives and families, but also contributes to the development of the state and the nation,” he said.
“I hope Sabahans will make the right decision when heading to the ballot box. The people are mature and can vote wisely.”
The Prime Minister also said the government plans to establish a Form Six college in Sabah equipped with hostel facilities.
Anwar said all development efforts, including upgrading dilapidated schools in the state, stemmed from strong cooperation between the federal and Sabah governments.
