Local parties must lead: Hajiji
Published on: Mon, Jun 16, 2025 Text Size: Hajiji, accompanied by Usno President Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, is welcomed by Usno members upon arrival at Dewan Terbuka, Seri Dungkuan, Kampung Rampayan Laut. KOTA BELUD: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said local parties must be dominant in Sabah politics and prioritised when forming alliances for the coming 17th state election. He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Government, which is formed by local parties, must be defended and continued in the coming election.
Advertisement 'We want to continue this government, and that is why this election is important. We must not make the wrong choice. Local parties must be dominant in Sabah's political landscape and must be prioritised,' he said at the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) annual congress, here, Sunday. Hajiji said any discussions on cooperation with other parties should not come at the expense of local leadership. 'Cooperation is another matter, but GRS as a local coalition must be defended. This aligns with the sentiment of the people on the ground who want local parties to lead the Government. 'As GRS chairman, I will ensure this,' he said. Hajiji said he would not hand over the rights and struggle of GRS to those with ill intentions. 'I will not easily surrender what GRS stands for to those trying to undermine the coalition,' he said. He urged leaders and members of all GRS component parties, including Usno, to go to the ground and engage with the public on the coalition's 'Our Home, We Protect' and 'Sabah First' philosophies. Other component parties include Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku Sabah, Sabah Progressive Party, Parti Cinta Sabah, Liberal Demokratik Sabah and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah. 'This is our mission. When we say, 'Our Home, We Protect', it should be understood clearly. We shouldn't have to explain bit by bit. It's simple, we take care of our own,' he said. On Saturday, Sabah PKR Chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said official negotiations with GRS were set to begin ahead of the state election, following approval from the PKR and PH central leadership. However, GRS Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the coalition should 'honour' Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's call for it to contest against BN in the polls before discussions on any possible cooperation. He said such a contest would eliminate any accusations that victory depends solely on the strength of particular parties within coalitions. 'I agree with Bung that GRS and BN should face off in the coming state election. By leaving it to the people, whoever wins will no longer face accusations that Party A won because of Party B's strength, and there will be no more allegations of betrayal,' said Armizan. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Sabah poll shows 32 per cent of voters remain undecided ahead of state election
KOTA KINABALU: A large bloc of undecided voters is set to shape the Sabah state election, a survey shows. Research firm Vodus found that 32 per cent of the electorate there remains undecided, with economy, living costs, job opportunities and healthcare cited as top concerns. According to Vodus Research founder Kelvin Goh, "there is a strong signal that evolving priorities and political leanings of the electorate and political parties banking on legacy support should be alert". However, the most striking finding is the 32 per cent of voters who remain undecided, making them the single largest segment after GRS supporters, Goh said. The statewide poll, conducted in June 2025 by Vodus proprietary OMTOS online survey platform, canvassed 536 registered voters across Sabah's diverse demographics. The research also revealed that Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leads with 25 per cent of voter support. It is followed by Barisan Nasional (BN) at 13 per cent , Pakatan Harapan (PH) at 10 per cent, and Parti Warisan at 9 per cent. Goh added 66 per cent of Sabahans cited leadership qualities such as competence, integrity, and trustworthiness as the top criterion, followed by the candidate's background and economic policies. The survey also indicates party manifestos and political track records ranked lower in importance, suggesting that voters may be increasingly personality-driven rather than party-driven in their choices. "This trend is particularly strong among Indigenous Sabahans and Malay voters, groups where GRS currently enjoys strong support. "While GRS holds a commanding lead, the race remains highly fluid. Political parties aiming to secure victory will need more than just party branding. "They must present credible solutions on economic hardship, healthcare, and local governance," he said in the statement. The survey also highlighted several demographic gaps that could offer strategic openings. For instance, among first-time voters, BN performs better than other parties. On the other hand, it stated that PH would find its strongest support among voters under 35 but does not lead in any age group. On an ethnic basis, GRS is preferred by Malays (28 per cent) and Indigenous Sabahans (29 per cent). BN leads among Chinese voters (33 per cent), though its support is weaker among Indigenous groups. With an expected turnout of 80 per cent, including 8 per cent first-time voters, the Sabah state election could serve as an indicator for broader national trends, particularly the rise of issue-based voting and leadership centred preferences. "Sabah is known for its fluid political alignments and multi-ethnic electorate. The large undecided bloc could prove decisive come polling day. "As such, voter outreach and clarity on pressing issues will be crucial in the final stretch," he said in a statement. He added the survey also reveals rising cost of living, job opportunities and healthcare, and corruption concern voters. In contrast, state autonomy under Malaysian Agreement 1963 was rated least important, particularly among younger and less politically engaged voters.
Daily Express
4 hours ago
- Daily Express
Coming polls my last: Hajiji
Published on: Thursday, August 21, 2025 Published on: Thu, Aug 21, 2025 By: Stefyanie Myla Micheal Text Size: TUARAN: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has announced that the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election will be his last, ending more than 35 years in politics. Speaking at the opening of the DSP Haji Hajiji Hall here on Thursday, Hajiji reflected on his journey from a young politician to Chief Minister, saying it was time to give way to the younger generation. Advertisement He emphasised that his administration had prioritised education and human capital development, describing them as the foundations of Sabah's future prosperity. Hajiji urged teachers, parents, and community leaders to share the government's achievements and not be swayed by opposition propaganda. 'This will be my last election. After this, it is time for the younger generation to continue the struggle,' he said. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Upcoming Sabah polls my last - Hajiji
Hajiji TUARAN (Aug 21): Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor today announced that the upcoming 17th state election will be the final one of his political career. The 70-year-old, who has served as an elected representative for 35 years, made the emotional declaration during the launch of the SK Bundung Hall in Tuaran on Thursday. Hajiji, who is the chairman of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan), revealed that he had already informed his constituents in Sulaman of his decision. 'Otherwise, I am actually very tired of politics. I am old already, although my heart is still 'young'. Half of my life, I have been an elected representative for 35 years. I am now 70 years old,' he stated . The seasoned politician, who began his career as a public servant before entering politics in 1990 as a member of the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno), has had a long and dynamic political journey. After Usno was dissolved, he joined Umno in 1994. Following the fall of the Barisan Nasional government in 2020, Hajiji led former Sabah Umno leaders to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu). Two years later, after the 15th general election, he again led an exodus, this time from Bersatu, to form the local-based Gagasan party. His announcement comes amid significant political developments in Sabah, including GRS's recent proposal to include a two-term limit for the Chief Minister's post in its election manifesto. Hajiji emphasized the importance of passing the baton to newer and younger leaders, a sentiment he has expressed previously to his constituents. The upcoming state election, which must be held by December 7, 2025, is shaping up to be a complex and consequential contest, with shifting alliances and multi-cornered fights anticipated. Hajiji's leadership and the future of GRS will be pivotal in determining Sabah's political trajectory. In his speech earlier, Hajiji reiterated the State Government's unwavering commitment to advancing human capital and education development under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development blueprint, describing recent initiatives as 'unprecedented'. He said that over the past five years, the State Government has channelled a significant RM1.33 billion towards education and human resource development. 'Never before have we implemented such a wide range of initiatives for the development of human capital and education in Sabah,' he said. Among the most notable advancements this year is the substantial increase in state scholarships, now amounting to RM138 million, nearly triple the previous allocation of RM50 million. 'However, this amount is still insufficient. I have directed the State Secretary to further increase the allocation next year so that more high-achieving Sabah students can benefit from this assistance,' Hajiji stated. He added that the government also provides a RM200 cash aid to approximately 40,000 students sitting for the SPM and STPM examinations each year. 'I understand that among these 40,000 students, many come from less fortunate families. I still remember when I was preparing to sit for the Lower Cambridge Examination (LCE) in 1971, my mother had to borrow RM15 from relatives just to pay my exam fees. I know how difficult it can be,' he shared candidly. Hajiji assured that education and human capital development would remain top priorities for his administration. 'These areas are central to the overall SMJ development strategy. While we have made significant progress in developing Sabah's economy through the agriculture, tourism and industrial sectors, our efforts would be incomplete if we failed to invest in the education sector,' he stressed. The Chief Minister also urged educators to help disseminate accurate information about government policies and development programmes. 'Do not be swayed by the lies and slander propagated by the opposition. They fail to acknowledge the achievements of the State Government,' he said. Hajiji highlighted the State Government's successful track record in securing high-impact investments and generating employment opportunities in Sabah. 'If we were truly doing wrong, why would so many investors come to Sabah?' he questioned, pointing out that the latest is a Singaporean company planning a RM31 billion investment in three phases in Sipitang. The Chief Minister later witnessed a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the retirement of SK Bundung's headmistress, Grace Subramaniam. Also present at the event was Rural Development Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Jahid Jahim.
