Sabah Polls: Hajiji Highlights Five Years Of Growth And Reforms Under GRS

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has delivered wide-ranging reforms over the past five years, including revitalising the state’s economy, boosting investments, and creating jobs, said its chairman and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Speaking before announcing GRS candidates for the 17th State Election, Hajiji said the coalition had overcome numerous challenges through cooperation and prudent governance with its government partners.

Among key initiatives, he said, is the plan to establish three new industrial parks in areas with strong potential, namely Kimanis or Bongawan, Kota Belud or Kota Marudu, and Kudat, to drive Sabah’s blue economy development.

“The Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park and Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park are no longer sufficient to meet rising demand,” he said.

Hajiji also pointed out that Sabah has achieved a major milestone by signing a commercial collaboration agreement with PETRONAS, which benefits the state through SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd and local companies in the oil and gas sector.

In education and human capital development, he said the state government allocated RM1.2 billion, its largest-ever education budget, to fund scholarships and education aid for more than 480,000 Sabahan students pursuing higher studies.

To support the welfare of low-income families, over 5,300 homes have been built under the SMJ Housing Programme, while RM300 monthly cash assistance is provided to 100,000 recipients, he noted.

The GRS chairman also said that Sabah has expanded its water treatment capacity, increasing the number of plants from 85 to 91 and upgrading key facilities in Limbahau, Beluran, Kinabatangan, and Keningau.

“The RM1.2 billion Kogopon Water Treatment Plant upgrade in Papar is expected to be completed in 2026, while the Cinta Mata Dam in Tawau is slated for completion in 2027,” he said.

Hajiji said the state has also approved 11 power generation projects with a total capacity of 1,219 megawatts, to be completed by 2030, including the RM3.05 billion Ulu Padas hydroelectric dam.

“Meanwhile, the Pan Borneo Highway project is regaining momentum, with four of 39 packages completed, alongside RM4.89 billion allocated for rural road repairs and maintenance.

“State revenue has more than doubled from RM3.59 billion in 2020 to over RM7 billion in both 2023 and 2024,” Hajiji said, attributing the achievement to sound governance and the administration’s guiding principle of ‘Sabah First’.

-- BERNAMA