SANDAKAN: The Sabah Chief Minister has reiterated that the state assembly will not be dissolved when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob calls for a general election.
Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said his administration had three more years to govern Sabah.
“We will complete our full (five-year) term,” the Chief Minister told the people during a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) roadshow in Batu Sapi here yesterday.
The GRS-Barisan Nasional-led state government is celebrating its second anniversary today.
The administration was formed after defeating the Warisan Plus state government led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal in the 2020 snap election.
“What is important is that we will continue to strengthen GRS, the coalition representing the multi-ethnic and multi-religious people in Sabah.
“There are those who claim the 15th General Election (GE15) will be held this October.
“Some say it will be next year, but whatever it is, GRS is ready,” Hajiji, who is GRS chairman, said.
He also disclosed that all the component parties in GRS had agreed to use the GRS symbol in the impending parliamentary election.
“All the parties in GRS, including Parti Bersatu Sabah and Sabah STAR, have agreed to use the GRS symbol in the election.
“God willing, we will emerge victorious in this parliamentary election,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that both GRS and Barisan had pledged to work together to develop the state and plan to bring progress to the people.
“If the candidate for Batu Sapi (Parliament seat) is chosen from GRS, we know Barisan will also work hard to ensure victory.
“Likewise, if a Barisan candidate is chosen, GRS will work hard to make sure the candidate wins because we are a GRS-Barisan government.
“We must learn from past political mistakes. Enough is enough. We do not need to be split and divisive anymore.
“This time we hope to cooperate in the best way possible and bring Sabah forward in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya agenda,” the Chief Minister said.
Hajiji also said the state government would address all the issues affecting the people in Batu Sapi. He cited the example of the squatter settlement status.
“I have discussed with Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun to look into the issue.
“If possible, we would like to gazette the squatters’ settlement into a kampung reserve,” said Hajiji.