CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman, slammed those who ridiculed the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan, including turning it into a political satire.
He said these opposition parties show disrespect for the “Sabah Maju Jaya” which is the official motto in the Sabah’s coat of arms.
He said the GRS State Government’s initiatives in using the Sabah motto in its development plan is to dignify and empower the meaning behind it.
“We chose the name SMJ because it has been on the coat of arms of Sabah since independence.
“Even SMJ becomes a subject of criticism by those envious of us, those who did not have a development plan, associating the motto with potholes or water disruptions.
“This is the opposition’s behaviour today. It is ill-intentioned and too negative. SMJ is a motto we must uphold and empower to develop Sabah. No one has used this motto before in developing Sabah,” said Hajiji, who is also Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) President, at the Sukau / Lamag Gagasan Rakyat Divisions’ gathering held at Sukau Town Square, Kinabatangan, on July 8.
Also present were Gagasan Rakyat Vice President and Kuamut Assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah, GRS Deputy Chairman and Usno President Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, Gagasan Rakyat Secretary-General Datuk Mohd Razali Razi, Gagasan Rakyat Information Chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan; Sukau Gagasan Rakyat Division Chief Datuk Juhari Janan and Lamag Gagasan Rakyat Division Chief Abu Bakar Gapar as well as Sukau Gagasan Rakyat Division Deputy Chief Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman.
About 20,000 Gagasan Rakyat and GRS leaders and supporters from in and outside Sukau attended the programme which also featured guest artists, Fiq, Black Hanifah and Baby Shima as well as exhibitions and free health check-ups.
Hajiji said SMJ is not only recognised in Sabah but by the Federal through the Road Transport Department (JPJ) which agreed to make “SMJ” the special number plate of Sabah Government vehicles.
He was also happy that Gagasan Rakyat is beginning to be accepted in Lamag and Sukau.
“The future is bright and I hope both Division Chiefs continue to work hard to ensure that Sukau and Lamag belong to Gagasan Rakyat in the next elections.
“Gagasan Rakyat is a local party that we set up to continue our struggle in Sabah and it is a member of GRS. In GRS, we have seven parties that will fight for the rights and interests of the people of Sabah.
“This is what we are doing because today’s gathering of the people and the launch of this party gives us a reflection that Sukau and Lamag need Gagasan Rakyat to move forward,” he said.
“Believe me, if we are united and work for the people, we can do it. We can change the situation of Sukau and Lamag as they wish,” he said.
Hajiji also assured to focus on Lamag and Sukau, especially the needs of the people in the areas.
In line with that, he said he agreed to approve the project to build a hall in Sukau worth RM3 million and supported the proposal to make Sukau a sub-district.
“The GRS Government will ensure that Sukau Sub-District becomes a reality. This has been proposed for a long time but was not fought for by the previous leadership,” he said.
“Today we will make it a reality and we will make sure that the Sukau Sub-District Office can be built.”
Meanwhile, Juhari said the people want local parties and it is certain that Sabah under the leadership of Hajiji will make sure Gagasan Rakyat is heard by the Federal.
As for development in Sukau, he explained, the need for roads, water as well as land.
“Sukau, which is a tourist centre also needs a hotel or accommodation as an added value to meet the needs of visitors who come to visit the natural beauty, rivers and wildlife,” he said.
Abu Bakar said the Lamag or Kinabatangan area needs a sports complex for the youths.
“We also hope that the proposed creation of a new town in Kota Kinabatangan can become a reality because it has been delayed for so long,
“With the existence of the town, it is certain that development here can also be carried out in the best possible way,” he said, adding it is time Sabah has its own local coalition like Sarawak which has the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
