GRS, PH plus will return to govern the State after PRN17

1 September 2024

KOTA BELUD: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) – Pakatan Harapan (PH) Plus coalition, which currently forms the state government, is capable of continuing to govern after the 17th State Election (PRN17).

This confidence was expressed by the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, based on the current political developments and the public's acceptance of the existing government.

He stated that the coalition has the strength to continue serving the people and to develop the state to a better level.

"I know the strength of our party. InsyaAllah, we will work together with PH Plus, and we will remain the government after the upcoming PRN.

"The people want change and want GRS-PH Plus to continue governing the state," he said at the official opening of the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (People's Vision Party) Usukan Division at the Datuk Japlin Akim Hall, Kampung Jawi-Jawi, on Sunday.

Hajiji, who is also the President of Gagasan Rakyat, mentioned that many factors need to be considered in facing the upcoming PRN, including the interests of allies within GRS and the Unity Government.

He noted that these are crucial conditions to ensure the existing government can be maintained after PRN17, in addition to strengthening Gagasan Rakyat, which is the backbone of GRS.

"What is important for us, especially in Usukan, is that if there is a spirit to contest in Usukan, the Gagasan Rakyat party must be strong and solid.

"This is a primary requirement, and we want all party members to work hard to face the challenges and the upcoming PRN, as many factors need to be considered in the next election."

"We must consider the interests of our allies in GRS and the Unity Government because we want to continue governing Sabah," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister reiterated his government's stance on the importance of maintaining a good relationship with the Federal Government.

"In politics, the state government must be in sync and work closely with the Federal Government. This is important because we must learn from past history; when the state government does not cooperate with the federal government, what happens?

"I don't want to say too much here, as some may take offense. So, it is necessary because we are in one country, Malaysia.

"Let us not be too focused on race, state, or local issues. While people talk about a borderless world, we tend to focus on our village and state, not on the nation. Therefore, we need to be smart in politics; we cannot be adversarial towards the federal government," he said.

Hajiji stated that this practice has been the guiding principle of his government, enabling them to achieve many successes, even though it has only been a little over a year since the Unity Government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Anwar Ibrahim took office.

"During my time and under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, many issues related to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) have been addressed, and it has only been a little over a year.

"Now, only a few issues remain. We have never backed down in asking the Federal Government to implement and fulfill what is enshrined in MA63," he said.