KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor has officially taken over the helm of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) following the
party’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) today.
Hajiji, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman said that with this move all
members now have a political platform that is 100 per cent local to continue with their
struggle for the people and the state.
“Two main characteristics of Gagasan Rakyat that has attracted my colleagues and I to
be with this party are that it is a multi-racial party symbolising inclusivity and it is a party
representing the voice of Sabahans and with it, the local struggle,” he said.
These were also factors that have convinced partners in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah
(GRS) to accept Gagasan Rakyat as their latest component partner, he said at the
Gagasan Rakyat EGM attended by more by 150 members at the Sabah International
Convention Centre, here.
“Moreover, they (GRS component parties) have long expressed their wish for GRS to
be a local platform in the real sense, that is for all the partners to be local parties. Now
we are 100 per cent local.
Besides, Hajiji said Gagasan Rakyat’s agenda is also in line with the four pillars of GRS’s
struggle – Sabah First; Sabah Forward; Sabah Prosper; and Sabah United.
“Being a local party does not mean we reject the national agenda nor put behind national
interests. Malaysia is our homeland. Nonetheless, the original goal of the formation of
Malaysia was to bring progress to the people and Sabah,” he said.
“Today, and in conjunction with 2023 marking the 60 years anniversary of the formation
of Malaysia, we are confident and truly believe that a local platform is the best for Sabah.
“We chose and decided that a local formula has the capability to galvanise the state’s
interest and struggle in the Federation of Malaysia. We want a more valuable and
meaningful implementation of the federalism system based on the Federal Constitution
and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“For this reason, we will work with any quarters that accept and puts Sabah’s interest
first.
“What is more important for us is to get the recognition and the implementation of the
rights, powers and special position of Sabah as enshrined in the highest law of the
country which is the Federal Constitution, the law which gave birth to the Federation of
Malaysia which is MA63. There is no Malaysia without the MA63,” he said.
“We are thankful that the country’s top leadership, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim is committed to fulfilling Putrajaya’s responsibility to implement the MA63. He
has yet to hold office for 100 days and we have already seen significant progress. We
will continue to enhance cooperation with the Federal Government to build a progressive
Sabah and Malaysia Madani,” he said.
Hajiji said he would explain in more details Gagasan Rakyat’s direction at the party’s
forthcoming launch on March 2.
Gagasan Rakyat will now establish the party’s organisation structure in all 73 state
constituencies including the formation of the party’s Wanita, Pemuda and Beliawanis
wings.
The respective branches’ and divisions’ annual general meeting has been scheduled for
July and September, respectively culminating in the Annual Congress in November.
Hajiji thanked the party’s former president, Stephen Jimbangan and his leadership team
for their trust and confidence in him and for his readiness to sacrifice for the greater good
of Sabah and the people
Hajiji also announced the Supreme Council line-up with several more to be appointed
in due course.-pr/BNN
