GRS Allocates 40,000 Acres for Kampung Reserves and Development

8 November 2025

TENOM: The State Government has allocated nearly 40,000 acres of state land from the Sabah Forest Industry (SFI) concession area for kampung reserves, announced Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.

“The GRS State Government has gazetted these kampung reserves, demonstrating our commitment to addressing the needs of the people,” he said.

“At the most recent State Legislative Assembly sitting, we approved the transfer of over 40,000 acres of state land from SFI for this purpose,” he added during the launch of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Kemabong election machinery at Dataran Daerah Kecil Kemabong, near here today.

Hajiji stated that under the GRS-led State Government, land belonging to government-linked companies (GLCs) has also been alienated and allocated to the people.

“Our aim is for the people to live comfortably. One of the pillars of the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) is the prosperity of the rakyat, which is why we prioritise their welfare,” he explained.

He noted that previously, only about 30,000 individuals were registered as recipients of welfare aid, but under the current State Government, that number has increased to 70,000.

Hajiji also highlighted that the State Government has gained significant benefits from the landmark Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) with PETRONAS, reaffirming that Sabah now has a greater voice and increased participation in the oil and gas industry.

“In the oil and gas services and equipment (OGSE) sector, we now have more than 80 local vendors involved, compared to just 10 in 2022,” he said, adding that these vendors currently hold 36 per cent of the contract market share.

Hajiji emphasised that unlike the opposition, which engaged in “revenge” politics when assuming power, the GRS-led government is focused on driving development and progress through the Hala Tuju SMJ 1.0.

“If the people entrust us with their mandate, we will continue to develop under Hala Tuju SMJ 2.0,” he asserted.

“We are not engaging in politics for politics’ sake. We do not make empty promises; instead, we have a concrete development agenda, while the opposition are willing to promise even the moon and the stars,” he said.

Hajiji also confirmed that Datuk Rubin Balang will be the GRS candidate for Kemabong in the upcoming 17th State Assembly General Election on 29th November.

“With a strong machinery and the full support of the voters in Kemabong, insyaAllah, Datuk Rubin Balang will secure victory once again,” he concluded.