Successes and development brought by the GRS-PH Plus government. Opposition in denial: Hajiji
Published on: Tue, Apr 29, 2025
By: Johan Aziz Text Size: Hajiji (third right) with Flovia, Ellron, Jeffrey, Arthur, Robert and Safar performing the gimmick to launch the Sook Full District Upgrade in the grounds of the Sook District Secretariat Building, Keningau. SOOK: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has implemented many initiatives for the (economic) wellbeing of the people but the opposition flatly refuses to acknowledge, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said the initiatives are in place and already benefiting the people, but the opposition kept harping on a 'lack of progress.' 'These claims by the opposition that the GRS-PH Plus government has not brought any development to the State are false,' he said at an event here to mark the upgrading of Sook from a sub-district to a full district, Monday. 'These are the claims of those who deny the successes brought by the Government. However, we will not keep silent, but continue to work for the development of the State and the people,' said Hajiji. He said assistance was also given to children from B40 families who successfully furthered their studies at higher education institutions. Other forms of student aid included IPT Registration Cash Assistance (Budi), the Special Examination Cash Assistance (Bakti), Computer Kindness Assistance (Baik) and special subsidy on RM800 flight tickets (GRS-Subfly) to students who studying in the peninsula and Sarawak, as well as RM300 given under the Sentosa programme for higher education. 'This is part of 13 state government educational assistance initiatives for eligible students,' he added. Hajiji said other initiatives included the construction of 3,000 units of SMJ Friendly Houses in all 73 state constituencies at a cost of RM250 million. The latest aid this year is the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat (Syukur) programme, he said, which will benefit about 100,000 recipients through cash assistance of RM300 per month until the end of the year. On the opposition's criticism about water supply, electricity and roads, Hajiji said his government inherited those decades-old problems and was in the process of solving them. He said a total of 13 high-impact water supply development projects have been and are being implemented as long-term measures to ensure sufficient water supply in the State. Among them are the Tawau Water Supply Scheme Phase 3, Construction of the Kundasang Water Treatment Plant, Construction of the New Semporna Water Treatment Plant, Water Supply Scheme in Lahad Datu Phase 1 and Capacity Expansion of the Telibong Water Treatment Plant II. 'The project to increase the capacity of the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant (LRA) Phase Two in Papar involves works to upgrade the capacity from 40 million litres per day (MLD) to 80 MLD, which is expected to be completed in 2026,' he said. On electricity supply, Hajiji said various efforts have been made, including implementing the Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project which will generate 187.5 megawatts (MW) of electricity and the Sabah Energy Council has also approved almost 1,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to be generated through several electricity generation projects to increase the energy needs in the State. 'The project is not only to overcome the electricity supply problem, but among efforts to provide a long-term, sustainable solution for the State,' he added. Hajiji said more developments are being brought to the State and he was recently informed that four out of 16 packages of Phase 1A of the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project have been completed, and the remaining 12 packages are under construction, with a progress status of 81.7 per cent. 'All these are among the initiatives that we have and are currently implementing. What we are bringing has never been done before. More development will be brought to the State for the wellbeing of the people if we are given another mandate,' he stressed. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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