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Free Malaysia Today
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Sabahan No 1' not an empty slogan, says Salleh
Sabah BN treasurer Salleh Said Keruak said the state party moved in tandem with the federal unity government. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : 'Sabahan No 1' is not an empty slogan for Barisan Nasional as it represents the party's struggle to give priority to the interests of the people of Sabah, according to Sabah BN treasurer Salleh Said Keruak. Speaking to Umno members in Benoni, he said BN relied on hard work and perseverance, rather than populist sentiment or material inducements, with 'not just promises, but actual delivery'. Salleh, who is state assemblyman for Usukan, said: 'We don't come with money, but with spirit and hard work.' His remarks come a week after Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor reiterated his stance that local parties should lead and dominate Sabah politics. While he acknowledged cooperation with national parties, Hajiji maintained that ultimate political control should remain in the hands of Sabahans themselves. Salleh, who has previously asserted that the struggle for the state's rights is not the domain of any one party but of all Sabahans, said Sabah BN moved in tandem with the federal unity coalition government, to ensure Sabah had a decisive voice in national affairs. Last week, Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin called for a straight contest between BN and the ruling coalition GRS at the next state elections. He said cooperation could be considered after the elections. GRS deputy secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali said that Bung's proposal was reasonable and should be honoured as the only way to resolve the conflict between the two coalition parties.
Free Malaysia Today
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Local parties must lead and dominate Sabah politics, says Hajiji
Sabah chief minister and GRS chairman Hajiji Noor said the people want local parties to lead the government. PETALING JAYA : Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor said local parties must be dominant in Sabah politics and prioritised when forming alliances for the 17th state election. He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government, which is formed by local parties, must be defended and continued in the upcoming election. 'We want to continue this government, and that is why this election is important. We must not make the wrong choice. Local parties must be dominant in Sabah's political landscape and must be prioritised,' he said at the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) annual congress in Kota Belud today. Hajiji said any discussions on cooperation with other parties should not come at the expense of local leadership. 'Cooperation is another matter, but GRS as a local coalition must be defended. This aligns with the sentiment of the people on the ground who want local parties to lead the government. 'As GRS chairman, I will ensure this,' he said. Hajiji said he would not hand over the rights and struggle of GRS to those with ill intentions. 'I will not easily surrender what GRS stands for to those trying to undermine the coalition,' he said. He urged leaders and members of all GRS component parties, including Usno, to go to the ground and engage with the public on the coalition's 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga', and 'Sabah First' philosophies. 'This is our mission. When we say, 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga', it should be understood clearly. We shouldn't have to explain bit by bit. It's simple, we take care of our own,' he said. Yesterday, Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud said official negotiations with GRS were set to begin ahead of the state election, following approval from the PKR and PH central leadership. However, GRS deputy secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali said the coalition should 'honour' Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin's call for it to contest against BN in the polls before discussions on any possible cooperation.
Malay Mail
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Rumah kita, kita jaga': Local parties must lead Sabah's political future, says Hajiji
KOTA BELUD, June 15 — Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor has emphasised that local parties must remain dominant in Sabah's political landscape and be prioritised when forming alliances for the upcoming 17th State Election (PRN17). He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-led government, which was established by local parties, must be preserved, making the upcoming election especially crucial for the coalition. 'We want to continue this government, and that is why I believe this election is extremely important. We must not make the wrong choice. Local parties must be dominant in Sabah's politics and must be prioritised. 'As for political cooperation, that's another matter. But GRS, as a local coalition, is vital for us to defend, in line with grassroots sentiment that wants local parties to lead the government,' said Hajiji who is GRS chairman. 'As chairman of GRS, I will ensure this happens,' he said when officiating United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) general congress at Dewan Terbuka Seri Dungkuan, Kampung Rampayan Laut, near here on Sunday. Hajiji said he would not easily surrender GRS's rights and struggle to those attempting to undermine the coalition. As such, he expressed hope that all leaders and members of GRS component parties, including Usno, would go to the ground and explain to the people the essence of GRS's struggle, which upholds the philosophies of 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga' and 'Sabah First.' 'This is the mission of our struggle in GRS. When we say 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga', people should understand there's no need to explain every detail, it's simple. 'We must protect our home and avoid internal conflicts. If we fight, others will benefit, and we will lose. So, don't quarrel. What's important is that we win the election so we can continue this struggle, help the people, and develop our state,' he said. Hajiji emphasised that Usno and other component parties within GRS hold equally important roles within the coalition. 'Therefore, I hope Usno, along with its entire leadership and supporters, will unite and give their full effort to ensure GRS wins in the upcoming election. 'That's why Usno's participation in GRS is extremely important. Not only Usno, but all component parties in GRS play a crucial role in strengthening the coalition, especially with the election just around the corner. 'Usno must channel its energy together with GRS so that we can regain the people's mandate. When we formed GRS, we invited the current component parties to join us in defending Sabah's rights. 'Our intention is sincere and noble, as Sabahans, we must defend our rights as Sabahans. We must be united,' he said. He added that if only one party were to carry the struggle alone, it would not be able to shoulder such a major task. For that reason, GRS needs all its partners to fulfil the same responsibility, regardless of the party's size. 'We want to champion the plight of our people who are still left behind and in need of support. We want to uplift the standard of living for those still struggling. 'We want to boost infrastructure and economic development in Sabah which is why, in my view, GRS, as the current government, must be given the mandate once again to govern Sabah after the election,' he said. In his speech, Hajiji also expressed appreciation for Usno's commitment to GRS, reflected in its slogan 'Usno dan GRS berpisah tiada' as declared by its president, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia. — The Borneo Post
Free Malaysia Today
30-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Be realistic, Sabah Umno not the force it once was, Bung told
Lee Kuok Tiung of U niversiti Malaysia Sabah said Warisan poses a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Bung Moktar Radin needs to accept the reality that Sabah Umno is no longer the force it used to be in the East Malaysian state, says a political analyst. Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Lee Kuok Tiung said while Umno used to dominate Sabah, the state's political landscape was vastly different then, with fewer local parties in contention. He pointed out that several parties have emerged in Sabah after multiple leaders broke away from Umno, namely Shafie Apdal's Warisan, Hajiji Noor's Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and even Bersatu's Sabah chapter, led by former Umno man Ronald Kiandee. 'There was no Warisan, GRS or even Sabah Bersatu in the past, and some of Sabah Umno's other past leaders are with different parties today. 'The political landscape and political set-up at that time was very different from the current scenario. So, wouldn't it be fair to say that Sabah Umno is not as it was before?' he told FMT. Lee also said Warisan, which intends to go solo in the upcoming state election, posed a bigger threat to GRS than Sabah Umno, especially if multi-cornered clashes occur. 'Warisan still carries a strong local branding compared with Umno, which carries 'federal baggage'. Warisan also appeals across the races more effectively than Umno. 'Although GRS currently holds the administrative power, any erosion of support (by way of multi-cornered contests), especially in mixed or urban seats, could benefit Warisan,' he said. While Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan have agreed to an alliance for the state election, talks are ongoing to rope GRS into the pact. Nonetheless, Sabah BN and GRS leaders have continued to trade barbs. On Wednesday, Bung said leaders of Sabah-based parties have failed to unite Sabahans despite constantly pushing sentiments that they were local parties. The Sabah Umno chief said he appreciated the 'local struggle' spirit, but the narrative that only local parties could defend Sabah was a broken record, specifically training his guns on GRS deputy chairman Jeffrey Kitingan. Bung said only national coalitions like BN could bring major change, ensure long-term stability and defending Sabah's right through federal channels. Lee warned Bung that undermining local party sentiments risked alienating voters, especially with more and more of them seeing local representation in the state assembly as crucial. 'Maybe he should slow down or lie low a little because what goes around comes around. Wouldn't it be a laughing stock if, in the 17th state election, Sabah Umno suddenly has to work with a local party? 'Some leaders need to move beyond the belief that they alone hold all the answers, and refrain from launching personal attacks against those with differing views. It's time they set aside their arrogance.' Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara agreed that it would be unwise to play down local party sentiments, which he noted was 'very, very high', though he believed Umno was still a force to be reckoned with in Sabah. Azmi said Umno's awareness of local party sentiments was evidenced by its federal leadership pushing the narrative that Sabah Umno had autonomy to make decisions, even on electoral pacts. However, he said, the federal BN leadership was making the final calls to unite the warring factions within Sabah Umno aligned with Bung, Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Salleh Said Keruak. Azmi also argued that BN and PH had the upper hand over local parties at the polls because of their access to federal power and resources.
Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Christina Liew ‘in the dark' about shifting alliances in Sabah
Christina Liew, former head of Sabah Pakatan Harapan, says she's looking forward to seeing how things unfold in Sabah politics. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Former Sabah Pakatan Harapan chief Christina Liew says she is in the dark about political developments in the state, describing herself as just an observer of the situation for now. 'I seriously don't know what's going on,' said Liew, when asked about shifting political alliances after Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan announced an alliance for the coming state elections. Ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah has since threatened to go solo in the state polls. 'I'm looking forward to seeing how things unfold. Of course, there are new issues every day. Personally, I'm just observing for now,' The Borneo Post quoted her as saying. 'From the news I've read so far, the chief minister (Hajiji Noor) said (GRS's electoral) partnership will only be announced after the state assembly is dissolved,' said Liew, a state minister and assembly member for Api-Api who used to head Sabah PKR. Liew said Sabah PH will focus on fulfilling its duties as a member of the state government 'regardless of what happens and whatever changes may or may not come'. Yesterday, the unity government coalition secretariat said seat talks and possible negotiations with other parties would be handled by the PH and BN leadership in Sabah, but the final decision would be made by the national leadership. Hajiji later said GRS would go solo in the state election if PH and BN's decision to cooperate for the polls was final. He said local parties should lead the state government as they better understood the realities, cultures and needs of Sabahans. However, Sabah PH leaders appear keen on maintaining its alliance with GRS while working with Sabah BN, saying the existing political stability at the federal and state levels should be maintained and further strengthened.
