KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor of Bersatu marked 100 days in office yesterday with a pledge to honour Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s (GRS) nine-point election manifesto.
He said several election pledges have been implemented.
“The GRS government is committed to delivering on the other points that require longer-term solutions as soon as possible,” he said in his 100-day message.
The GRS alliance won the Sabah election last September 26, with Sabah Bersatu chief Hajiji sworn in as chief minister on September 29.
Others sworn in that same day were his three deputies – Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah Umno), Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan (Sabah Star), Datuk Joachim Gunsalam (PBS) – and senior ministers Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Sabah Bersatu) and Datuk Jahid Jahim (PBS).
The nine-point manifesto covers state rights, infrastructure development, economic, employment, civil service, health, prosperity, education, human capital, security and youth, as well as women development.
He said the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) remains a top priority, and his government will continue keeping Sabahans informed on the progress of restoring state rights.
The pursuit of devolution of authority will be made via the MA63 committee talks or through direct talks with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said Hajiji.
Hajiji added that the RM1.6 billion allocation to build new and improve state infrastructure accounts for 30% of the total of RM4.3 billion state budget allocation this year.
On the Pan-Borneo Highway project, he said his deputy, Bung Moktar, is looking at ways to speed up construction, including finding alternative funding to ensure the project’s completion.
Hajiji said the state will continue focusing on the digitisation of the civil service and intensifying human capital investments to improve public sector delivery.
On economic development, he said a five-year plan to assist entrepreneurs affected by the Covid-19 started on December 8.
The Sabah Economic Advisory Council, created by Invest Sabah Bhd, includes the formulation of a new economic model for the state aimed at providing long-term economic stability and growth, he said.
“I believe that there is tremendous entrepreneur energy and investment potential capacity in Sabahans,” he said.
Hajiji, who is also Sulaman assemblyman, said new initiatives and improvements to existing policies will be made to generate investments and employment opportunities in key sectors, namely, agriculture, timber, oil and gas, service industries and entrepreneurship. – The Vibes, January 6, 2021
