PENAMPANG: The participation of UPKO in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will further strengthen political stability in the state while enhancing cooperation among local parties in efforts to develop Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
Hajiji, who is also GRS Chairman, said UPKO’s participation in GRS, which was decided by the GRS Supreme Council on June 8, was a positive development in Sabah’s political landscape and was welcomed with an open heart.
“In fact, when we received UPKO’s application to join GRS, we viewed it as a positive sign in the development of politics in Sabah, and we welcomed it with an open heart,” he said in his speech at the 32nd UPKO Anniversary celebration and the 17th UPKO Triennial Delegates Conference at the Hongkod Koisaan Hall, KDCA, here last night.
Hajiji said UPKO’s presence in the coalition of Sabah-based political parties would certainly further strengthen political stability in Sabah while enhancing cooperation among local parties through GRS.
“With political stability assured, it will certainly be easier for the State Government to focus on the development agenda for the people, the state’s economic prosperity and infrastructure development in Sabah,” he said.
In this regard, he called on all UPKO leaders and members to continue working together to realise the Sabah First, Sabah United, Sabah Forward and Sabah Prosper visions, while strengthening unity and cooperation among all GRS component parties.
Hajiji said he greatly appreciated the strong support from the UPKO president and party members throughout his tenure as Chief Minister, which had enabled him to lead Sabah’s development through the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 Development Plan, which is now being continued under SMJ 2.0.
He said the appointment of UPKO President Datuk Ewon Benedick as Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transportation carries a major mission to ensure that Sabah’s investment, industrial development and entrepreneurship agendas are successfully realised in line with the objectives of SMJ 2.0.
“I am very confident that with the commitment and strong cooperation of all parties, from the Government leadership to the roles and involvement of both the public and private sectors, Insya-Allah, the SMJ 2.0 development plan can be successfully implemented with excellence,” he said.
He said that as fellow partners in GRS, the component parties may come from different foundations of struggle and backgrounds, but they all shelter under the same roof and champion the same Sabah cause.
“GRS is our home, a home that we must take care of together; a home that shelters our struggle, a struggle for the people and our beloved state,” he said.
Hajiji said close and solid political unity and cooperation are the keys to a more progressive, excellent and prosperous future for Sabah.
“This is the agenda that we must implement so that future generations of Sabahans can be proud of the legacy we leave behind for them,” he said.
He also called on all GRS component parties to strengthen unity and continue working closely together to develop beloved Sabah.-pr/BNN
