CM instructs Political Secretaries to relay information on government initiatives to the grassroots

18 December 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor has instructed the 18 newly appointed Political Secretaries to ensure information on the State Government's initiatives and policies reaches the grassroots.

"The duties of a political secretary are very important in our administration system. I want all

political secretaries to help the government and their respective ministers, particularly in disseminating government policies."

"Importantly, in providing information about the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 which begins

next year," he said at the swearing-in ceremony of 18 political secretaries at Menara Kinabalu near here today.

He recalled that during the last State General Election, most of the people he met were unaware of the initiatives and assistance provided by the government, despite being highly publicised across all media platforms.

He said issues like the State Government’s recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate

(UEC) and the fact that 39 of its holders have been awarded government scholarships were

unknown to the Chinese community.

“I was surprised that many from the Chinese community did not know what the State Government has done despite the many assistance that we have given out to the Chinese schools and non-Muslim religious bodies."

“I also wondered why they did not know about the assistance that had never happened in Sabah’s history before. The (GRS-led) State Government had allocated so much to the tune of more than RM1.3 billion for education and human capital development,” he said.

Other assistance included free laptops, one-off university enrollment fee payment, subsidy for university students, either domestic or in Peninsula Malaysia returning to their hometown for holidays, assistance for those sitting for SPM examination each year, 40 units of Rumah Mesra SMJ that would be increased to 50 units for each State constituency, and many more to improve the livelihood of the people.

“All these have never been done before. So, I want the political secretaries to do their part in disseminating this information to the people on the ground."

“We want the people to get accurate information on the initiatives taken by the State government lest the people would accuse us of only making empty promises,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the State Government is also considering requests from opposition Members of the State Legislative Assembly for assistance in the form of office management

allocations.

“As a fair government, we will consider this, subject to the discretion of the Finance Minister,” he said.

Hajiji also cautioned the political secretaries to refrain from abusing their positions to pursue

personal agendas."

“I want the political secretaries to carry out the duties entrusted to them to the best of their ability and assist their respective minister and the government."

“I will not hesitate to take action against those found betraying the trust given to them,” he said, adding that they must work as a team in ensuring all the government policies are implemented successfully.

The new political secretaries in the Chief Minister’s Department are Azrul Ibrahim (Chief Political Secretary), Datuk Effendi Mohamed Sunoh, Datuk Mazlan @ Joehari Manan, Datuk Arthur Sen, Datuk Norazlinah Arif, Datuk Lahirul Latigu, Noorazmahirah Noorzain and Mohd Isquzawan Israq Arsit.

The other political secretaries are Dr Bonaventure Boniface (Works and Utilities Ministry), Johari @ Joe Suhaimin (Finance Ministry), Carlyle Lajimin (Industrial, Entrepreneurship and Transport Ministry), Abd Wahid Abd Razak (Local Government and Housing Ministry), Justinus Jalang (Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry), M Aziriansyah Ali (Youth, Sports Development and Creative Economy Ministry), Sabili Ahunang (Rural Development Ministry), Marius Masain (Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing Ministry), Datuk Raimie Unggi (Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry) and Herbert Roger (Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry.