Sabah Bersatu seeks federal help to honour Aku Janji manifesto

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Bersatu today said it needs help from the national leadership to fulfil its Aku Janji pledges made in the run-up to the September 26 state election.

State chapter chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor said Putrajaya must also assist in the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan, which will be presented to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) administration soon.

The state Bersatu’s demands are in Sabahans’ interests and based on love for the country, he said.

The chief minister added that he hopes the party’s central leadership understands Sabah folk’s struggles.

“With federal assistance, we are confident that the people of Sabah will appreciate the contribution and kindness of the Perikatan Nasional government,” he said in his speech in support of Prime Minister and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s policy speech at the party’s annual general assembly, at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.

In September, GRS components PN, Barisan Nasional and Parti Bersatu Sabah announced the nine core aims of the Aku Janji manifesto, related to the state’s infrastructure, economy, job opportunities, civil service, education, human resources, health and people’s well-being, security, and youth and women’s development.

Hajiji put forth three proposals to the Bersatu leadership, including for the word “pribumi” to include Sabah natives, so as to attract more to the party.

“This word shows that the party is inclusive of the natives in Sabah. It is a factor to attract Sabahans and boost their confidence to join Bersatu.

“We in Sabah also appreciate the party’s objective to defend the special position of native Sabahans, as stated in the federal constitution.

“Hence, we ask for this to become a strategy and approach at all levels of the party. Our speeches, our actions, should at all times show openness and inclusiveness to all pribumi people in Sabah.”

People of other races should feel comfortable working with Bersatu via PN, he added.

Hajiji stressed that the Sabah election highlighted the importance of collaboration and consensus, which are more important than “narrow and racist rhetoric in politics”.

He expressed support for Muhyiddin’s policy to increase the number of party members and divisions as soon as possible.

“Since the setting up of Sabah Bersatu, we have asked for permission to open up more divisions without needing them to be based on the number of district polling centres.

“We fully support the amendment to the (party) constitution, to open up more divisions according to villages or certain locations.”

He proposed that Bersatu form a wing for young women, saying only 20% of members are women under the age of 30.

“With those aged 18 and above allowed to vote, it is estimated that 1.5 million new voters aged 18 to 21 will cast their ballots in the next general election,” he said, pointing out that 25% of the 7.8 million young voters are women below 30. – The Vibes, November 28, 2020