logo
Hajiji confirms GRS and Pakatan to join forces in Sabah state election

Hajiji confirms GRS and Pakatan to join forces in Sabah state election

Malay Mail2 days ago
KOTA KINABALU, July 27 — Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has confirmed that an electoral pact will be formed between GRS and Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the upcoming 17th Sabah State Election.
The Chief Minister said the matter had been discussed among GRS component parties, and a consensus was reached to establish an electoral arrangement with PH.
Hajiji, who is also Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) president, said the move reflects the ongoing cooperation between GRS and PH within the current state administration.
'Of course, we are ready, but (the electoral pact formula) is not yet finalised. There are still a few matters to iron out,' he told reporters after officiating the Gagasan Rakyat Annual General Meeting 2025 here today.
Meanwhile, Sabah PH deputy chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud expressed his appreciation to the Chief Minister for upholding the spirit of cooperation between the two coalitions.
'I think it's good news for Sabah,' he said.
Mustapha said the next step would involve negotiations on seat allocation and expressed hope that the process would be carried out fairly.
Asked how many seats Sabah PH is eyeing in the upcoming state polls, Mustapha said the coalition is targeting between 23 and 25 seats, subject to the outcome of negotiations.
The current five-year term of the 16th Sabah state assembly will expire automatically on Nov 11, paving the way for the 17th Sabah State Election. — Bernama
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Kinabalu Move' was about state govt posts, says Kunak rep
‘Kinabalu Move' was about state govt posts, says Kunak rep

Free Malaysia Today

time5 hours ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

‘Kinabalu Move' was about state govt posts, says Kunak rep

Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif said the formation of a new state government was never once discussed among the party's elected representatives prior to the failed Kinabalu Move in January 2023. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : A Sabah assemblyman, who was formerly with Warisan, has claimed there was nothing altruistic about the 'Kinabalu Move' – an attempt led by Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Bung Moktar Radin to dislodge Hajiji Noor as chief minister. In a podcast, Norazlinah Arif recalled that Warisan assemblymen were summoned to attend a press conference at a hotel in Kota Kinabalu several days before the failed 'coup'. She said the assemblymen were told that Warisan would be part of a new state government, leaving them in shock, as the matter was never once discussed among the party's elected representatives. At the time, some assemblymen questioned why they should back Bung over Hajiji, Norazlinah said. The Kunak assemblyman claimed that they were then informed that if they backed the Bung-led coup, four or five Warisan leaders would be named to the state Cabinet. 'We knew the four who would be made ministers,' she said, without identifying them. 'That means the move to topple the government had nothing to do with the rakyat. It was about wanting government posts,' she said. Norazlinah, who quit the Shafie Apdal-led party in February 2023, also claimed there were plans for a second coup after the first one failed. In January 2023, Bung, the Sabah Umno chief, announced that the party was withdrawing its support for Hajiji. However, six Umno assemblymen pledged continued support for Hajiji, foiling Bung's plans which had the backing of Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat. Pakatan Harapan and GRS assemblymen also pledged their undivided support for Hajiji, who has been in office since the state election in September 2020. Bung was subsequently dropped as the state's deputy chief minister. Earlier this month, Sabah Umno deputy chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan suggested that Sabah BN's pullout from the state government was a needless mistake.

Zahid: BN-PH pact for Sabah polls set in stone, others welcome to join
Zahid: BN-PH pact for Sabah polls set in stone, others welcome to join

New Straits Times

time6 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Zahid: BN-PH pact for Sabah polls set in stone, others welcome to join

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition's pact with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the upcoming Sabah state election is final, but they remain open to cooperation with other Sabah-based parties or coalitions. Zahid said that while the cooperation between PH and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is a mutual agreement between the two coalitions, the partnership between BN and PH is now officially confirmed. "We have finalised our collaborative partnership with PH, which means we are now confirmed as partners for the Sabah state election. "As for PH and GRS, that is a mutual agreement between them, which has also been acknowledged," he told reporters during an inspection of final preparations for the 2025 3D Mega Carnival today. Zahid added that the BN-PH alliance remains open to working with other political parties or coalitions in Sabah. "We will continue to keep the door open for cooperation with other parties or coalitions in Sabah," he said. Yesterday, PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh confirmed the PH-BN alliance in Sabah for the upcoming state polls. She also said PKR welcomes cooperation with any party in facing the Sabah state election. This comes after Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor reiterated his commitment to work with Sabah PH for the upcoming state election. He attributed this willingness to work with PH to their leaders' support during the attempt to topple the GRS-led state government in 2023. However, Hajiji said that the people of Sabah should vote wisely to ensure GRS, a local-based coalition, dominates the political scene in the state. Meanwhile, Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud had said despite PH eyeing over 20 seats, both coalitions would still have to sit down to negotiate on which seats to contest.

Enactment opens up investment opportunities in carbon market
Enactment opens up investment opportunities in carbon market

Borneo Post

time6 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Enactment opens up investment opportunities in carbon market

Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun presenting the Asean Distinguished Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award to WSG Properties Sdn Bhd Managing Director Datuk Susan Wong in conjunction with the ASEAN Sustainable Forestry Summit on Tuesday. KOTA KINABALU (July 29): The passing of the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 at the recent Sabah State Assembly sitting has opened up opportunities for Sabah to attract investors, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor. 'This legal foundation gives investors the certainty they need. But the bigger opportunity lies in ASEAN cooperation. To grow this space, we need a functioning regional carbon market. 'That means common standards, regulatory alignment, and mutual recognition of credits across borders. A fragmented system will only delay investment. 'Sabah is ready to work with other ASEAN countries to push this agenda forward. Our forests are already doing their part. Now the frameworks must catch up,' he said at the ASEAN Sustainable Forestry Summit 2025 held at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort on Tuesday. Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun delivered his speech. Hajiji said the Enactment creates the Sabah Climate Action Council, a Climate Fund, a state-level emissions inventory, and a framework for benefit-sharing, particularly with indigenous communities. 'Carbon rights have been legally affirmed as belonging to the state government. And carbon-related activities from project approval to credit trading will now be governed by a clear and enforceable structure,' he said. The Chief Minister reiterated that Sabah is now a net sink jurisdiction – absorbing more carbon than it emits. 'We are among the rare few jurisdictions in the world to hold this status, and it is estimated that Sabah alone contributes approximately 36 per cent of Malaysia's total carbon sequestration. 'This is more than an environmental milestone. It is a strategic economic asset. In a carbon-constrained world, it is a competitive advantage we cannot afford to lose,' he said. Hajiji said forestry is central to Sabah's economy, environment, and future. 'Under the State Government's development plan, the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ), we have embedded sustainable forestry into our long-term growth strategy. 'In 2022, we introduced the Forest Plantation Development Action Plan, a 15-year blueprint to rehabilitate 400,000 hectares of degraded forest. This initiative is not just about replanting trees. It is about securing a reliable timber supply, generating green jobs and strengthening rural economies. 'Achieving the targets set out in this plan requires the continued commitment of Forest Management Unit (FMU) licence holders and working in close partnership with the Sabah Forestry Department,' he said. In this regard, Hajiji urged all FMU licence holders to fulfil their obligations while the Sabah Forestry Department strengthens its role in tracking progress and ensuring that implementation stays on course. Once fully realised, the plan is projected to contribute more than RM11 billion to Sabah's GDP and create 40,000 jobs across the value chain, he said. He also said timber remained a strategic sector for Sabah, with timber royalties rising to RM171 million in 2024, marking an increase of RM16 million from the previous year. 'Export volumes have also grown steadily, especially to Japan, the United States and Taiwan. Our target is clear: to reduce dependence on natural forests and scale up plantation-based, sustainable timber production,' he said. At the same time, he noted that Sabah, as the largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO) in Malaysia, contributing over 25 per cent of the national output, is also advancing its leadership in the palm oil industry. 'In 2024, Malaysia's CPO production reached 19.3 million tonnes, which is the highest in six years, and global demand remains strong. We are leveraging this advantage to attract investments in downstream processing, biofuels, and palm-based innovation. Facilities such as the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster in Lahad Datu and the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park have positioned Sabah as a hub for value-added manufacturing and biomass development, making them the engines of transformation, he said. 'Forestry and climate are now at the core of economic strategy for Sabah, for Malaysia and ASEAN. This Summit reflects that shift. We are no longer treating sustainability as optional. It is part of how we create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen resilience,' he said. In a nutshell, the Chief Minister stated that with clear laws, strong institutions, and the SMJ Roadmap to guide implementation, Sabah is well-prepared for the carbon market. 'Our forests and communities are already doing the hard work of carbon sequestration, biodiversity protection and sustainable use. But we cannot do this alone. 'We welcome those who bring capital, expertise and long-term partnerships from ASEAN and beyond. Invest in Sabah. You are investing in a state that is stable, strategic and serious about a green future,' he said. Jointly organised by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and the ASEAN Economic Club, the Summit brings together policy makers, business leaders and environmental experts from across Southeast Asia to address the urgent need for sustainable forestry and climate resilience.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store