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Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Sabah named ‘Malaysia's Most Outstanding State' for 2024
Azman Ujang, a chief judge of the awards, highlighted Sabah's potential in economic development and environmental sustainability. (Wikipedia pic) PETALING JAYA : Sabah has made its mark by being named 'Malaysia's Most Outstanding State' for 2024 at the International Business Review (IBR) Asean Awards 2025. Former Petagas assemblyman James Ligunjang said that for the first time, the awards extended recognition to state governments, acknowledging exceptional leadership and accomplishments at the state level alongside corporate achievements. Ligunjang said in a statement that under chief minister Hajiji Noor's leadership, Sabah had received the highest honour for implementing the Sabah Maju Jaya development framework. The framework centres on four pillars: championing Sabah's rights, leading with integrity and efficiency, fostering development aligned with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, and maintaining unity among the state's diverse communities. He said key achievements that contributed to the recognition include an increase in federal special grants from RM26 million in 2022 to RM600 million in 2025, and a 47% rise in foreign tourist arrivals, boosting the state's revenue. Other highlights include a substantial stake in oil and gas revenues from the commercial cooperation agreement with Petronas, yielding over RM3 billion in 2023, as well as foreign investments soaring from RM132 million in 2023 to over RM1 billion in 2024. Ligunjang also cited progress on the Pan-Borneo Highway, linking major cities and rural areas, as a key achievement by the state. He said that Azman Ujang, a chief judge of the awards, also highlighted Sabah's potential in economic development and environmental sustainability. 'He noted increased foreign investment interest, with investments rising from RM132.7 million in 2023 to RM1.07 billion in 2024, and praised the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park's record-high occupancy rate of 90% with 288 active investors. 'Sabah also achieved the highest manufacturing sector growth rate in Malaysia at 4.4% in 2023,' Ligunjang said. He said Azman had also emphasised the state's focus on human capital development and environmental conservation, with 62% of Sabah's land, amounting to 4.6 million hectares, declared free of logging, as part of long-term sustainability strategies. The official awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on July 19, at the Sabah International Convention Centre, Kota Kinabalu, with Hajiji expected to attend as an honorary guest. Ligunjang said the award was announced by the event's secretariat, which also honoured Negeri Sembilan as Malaysia's 'Most Progressive State' for 2024.
Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Activist supports Hajiji's stance on GRS going solo in Sabah polls
James Ligunjang said GRS chairman Hajiji Noor's announcement that GRS would contest independently, while focusing on collaboration with other local parties, would represent a 'strategic realignment' that places Sabahans first. PETALING JAYA : Hajiji Noor's announcement that GRS is ready to contest in the Sabah election on its own, should Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) join forces in the upcoming polls, is a significant step, says Sabah rights activist James Ligunjang. The former Petagas assemblyman said the statement by the GRS chairman, who is also Sabah chief minister, is a 'clarion call for Sabahans to reaffirm their commitment to self-determination'. 'The proposed PH-BN alliance raises concerns about the dominance and potential sidelining of local parties in the state's administration. It raises fears of external influence reminiscent of colonial times. 'Hajiji's proactive stance serves as both a warning and an opportunity for a referendum on whether Sabahans will allow political entities from Malaya to dictate their state's trajectory toward self-empowerment,' Ligunjang said in a statement. Yesterday, Hajiji said GRS has consistently held that local Sabah parties should be the backbone and head of the state government, without sidelining the important role national parties play in the larger political framework. He said this was because local parties had a better understanding of the realities, cultures and needs of Sabahans. Ligunjang said any decision by GRS to contest independently, while focusing on collaboration with other local parties, would represent a 'strategic realignment' that places Sabahans first. 'By aligning with the national unity government at the federal level, GRS aims to demonstrate that true stability involves empowering local voices and prioritising the needs of Sabahans,' he said. GRS and PH are currently allies in Hajiji's government, while BN sits in the opposition in the state assembly with Warisan. However, all four parties are allies in the federal government. Yesterday, the unity government coalition secretariat announced that PH and BN have agreed to work together for the Sabah polls, following a meeting between their respective chairmen, Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
