Hajiji says there was a clear aspiration among Sabahans at the time for a local political force capable of speaking with its own voice and defending the state’s interests without being influenced by external political calculations. – Bernama photo
KOTA KINABALU (May 17): Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor has reminded leaders in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) of the political challenges the coalition has faced since taking over the state government in 2020.
He said there was a clear aspiration among Sabahans at the time for a local political force capable of speaking with its own voice and defending the state’s interests without being influenced by external political calculations.
“Sabah then needed a local force capable of speaking with its own voice, making its own decisions and defending the interests of Sabahans with greater courage and dignity.
“That is why GRS was formed and from that struggle emerged Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) as the main pillar to ensure Sabah’s political house remains strong, stable and led by a struggle centred on the people of this state,” he said in his keynote address at the Special Gagasan Rakyat General Assembly at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here.
Hajiji, who is also Gagasan Rakyat president, said political developments in the state had shown shifting loyalties, with some leaders changing direction as elections approached.
He said such realities had provided important lessons for GRS in shaping its future direction and maintaining stability in the state government.
“In the past, those who spoke the loudest about Sabah needing to be strong like Sarawak were the same people who passionately called for local parties to unite, speaking about solidarity, Sabah’s political dignity and a local struggle for the people of Sabah.
“But when the time of testing came—when elections drew closer and power and positions became considerations—that was when we saw the true colours of their struggle. Some wanted to leave, some suddenly wanted to chart a solo path, and some abandoned the struggle simply because the positions they hoped for did not become theirs.
“We respect their decisions, we are not angry and we hold no grudges. But the people can judge for themselves who is truly fighting for Sabah. Every such incident must become a major lesson for all of us,” he said.
Hajiji said the true struggle is tested when personal interests have to be set aside for the sake of stability and collective strength. If Sabah is to be strong like Sarawak, he said, such strength cannot emerge from divided political egos.
“That is why every time someone chooses to leave, Gagasan Rakyat must not become weaker. Instead, we must become stronger, calmer in facing challenges, more mature in making decisions, more organised in our struggle and more united in defending this house of ours,” he said.
Hajiji also cautioned leaders against focusing excessively on identity-based political rhetoric.
He said what mattered most to the people were jobs, economic growth, opportunities for their children and a stable government capable of solving problems.
“That is the true measure of politics. If we forget this, perhaps we may only win on the stage of speeches but lose the confidence of the people. Today, I speak not only as president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, but also as chairman of GRS and Chief Minister of Sabah.
“This responsibility is immense. That is why party decisions cannot be guided by narrow thinking or short-term considerations. At times, we need to reorganise our strength and structure of struggle so that the great house we have built remains strong, stable and capable of being inherited by future generations,” he said.
Hajiji said the GRS government inherited a difficult situation when it took over, including the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, political instability and delayed development projects.
“We took over when Sabah’s economy was affected by the pandemic, politics was unstable and many development issues had long been delayed. But in those challenging circumstances, we chose to work instead of making excuses.
“We reorganised the government’s priorities, strengthened governance and focused on political stability, economic recovery and the foundations of the state’s long-term development.
“That is the discipline of Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) that I have brought. We do not promise change merely through speeches. We began building that change through policies, implementation and results that can be felt by the people,” he said.