Strong State-federal Ties Key To Sabah’s Growth - Hajiji

RANAU, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- A strong relationship between the state and federal governments is vital to ensure continuous development in Sabah, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Hajiji, who is also chairman of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), said the close ties between the state and federal governments under the GRS-Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration had brought progress to Sabah.

“We want close ties with the Federal Government. We want stability, and we hope the people understand that we are doing our best to bring them prosperity.

“We have more than 400 initiatives under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development agenda, and about 94 per cent of them have been successfully implemented,” he said in a statement after the groundbreaking ceremony of the Paginatan New Township Project at the Nunuk Ragang Memorial open hall here today.

Hajiji said the GRS-PH government had approved various aid programmes for the state’s education development and the well-being of its people, which no previous state government had done before.

“This year alone, we are providing monthly aid of RM300 to nearly 100,000 hardcore poor, and this initiative will continue if the people maintain their mandate for GRS-PH in the upcoming Sabah state election,” he said.

Accordingly, Hajiji said the GRS Supreme Council had agreed to maintain the existing cooperation formula with PH for the state election.

The 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly will automatically dissolve on Nov 11 if it is not dissolved earlier.

Meanwhile, Hajiji said the state government, through the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB), was committed to continuing efforts to address urban and rural poverty through new township development programmes.

He said the much-anticipated Paginatan New Township project was expected to boost the local economy in the area, in line with the SMJ development plan, which prioritised the people’s well-being.

The 200-acre township, located about 43 km from here, will be developed in five phases and will include essential facilities such as government offices, shops, low-cost housing, health centres and multipurpose halls.

-- BERNAMA