KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has identified the Lamag and Sukau constituencies as crucial seats for his newly-formed political party, Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah. As the Sabah Chief Minister and Gagasan Rakyat president, he has urged party leaders in both divisions to work tirelessly in order to secure victory in the upcoming state polls in 2025.
The Lamag seat is currently held by Sabah Barisan Nasional and state Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who played a significant role in the Sabah political crisis earlier this year. Bung, also the Kinabatangan MP, is regarded as a loyalist to this division. Meanwhile, Sukau is represented by the Sukau incumbent, Datuk Jafry Ariffin, who is Sabah Umno’s secretary.
Speaking during a Gagasan Rakyat gathering for the Sukau/Lamag divisions in Kinabatangan on Saturday (July 8), Hajiji expressed his optimism about his party’s prospects. He stated that Gagasan Rakyat is gaining acceptance in Lamag and Sukau, and believes the party will continue to garner support across the entire state.
“I am delighted to see the acceptance of Gagasan Rakyat in Lamag and Sukau. The future is promising, and I urge the leaders of both divisions to persist in their efforts to ensure Gagasan Rakyat’s victory in the upcoming election,” Hajiji said.
In addition to being the chairman of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state coalition, Hajiji highlighted that Gagasan Rakyat is a local party established on March 2 to safeguard the interests of the people in the state. He emphasized that together with the other six components of GRS, their priority is to reclaim the rights of Sabah and its people.
“This gathering and party launching signify our determination to move Sukau and Lamag forward. We will focus on these areas, including elevating Sukau’s status to a sub-district,” he added. Hajiji further stated that he will ensure the construction of the Sukau sub-district office, an issue that has been neglected in the past. Additionally, he approved a project to build a hall in Sukau at an estimated cost of RM3 million.
Earlier this year, Bung Moktar withdrew his party’s support from the GRS government. This action posed a threat to the Hajiji-led government, with the potential cooperation of Parti Warisan and smaller parties. However, GRS managed to secure the support of 44 assemblymen, allowing Hajiji to maintain his position as the Chief Minister with a simple majority in the 79-seat state assembly.
As a result of a state Cabinet reshuffle initiated by Hajiji, Bung Moktar was removed as Deputy Chief Minister and Works Minister, while two other Umno assemblymen, Datuk Yakubah Khan and Jafry, lost their state minister positions.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
