KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has announced his leadership of an existing local party Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) today.
Hajiji, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, announced that Gagasan Rakyat has been accepted to be part of GRS on December 9, 2022.
“We will move and continue our fights through Gagasan Sabah for the development of the people and the state. Hence, there are no more issues questioning my position as chief minister,” he said in a statement today.
He added that he has the majority support of Sabah assemblymen as chief minister, and has now taken over the leadership of Gagasan Rakyat.
Gagasan Rakyat was formed and registered on 28 August 2013 as a multi-racial Sabah opposition party then, but only started to be active in 2016.
The party was founded by Ationg Tituh with its core objective to present the views and will of the original Sabahans to the government.
Hajiji replaced Stephen Jacob Jimbangan as party president.
GRS now has five coalition parties – Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Sabah Star, Sabah Progressive Party, United Sabah National Organisation (Usno), and Gagasan Sabah.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of GRS students’ convention and the launching of GRS student wing in Hotel Raia earlier today, Hajiji said he felt strange that several parties are still unsatisfied with his administration.
“I felt that it was strange; we administered the state well. However, I know that this is not because we failed to manage the state, but (because of) greed and position.
“However, I am confident with the people’s support because we have successfully done our best for the future of Sabah. I am confident that we can overcome all challenges in this administration,” he said.
Also present at the ceremony were PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, Usno president Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, and Sabah Star deputy president Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin. – The Vibes, January 29, 2023
