Confidence based on work done: Chief Minister

Kota Kinabalu: Caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said his confidence on Gabungan Rakyat Sabah securing a simple majority in the Nov. 29  State Election is based on the GRS State Government’s tangible achievements over the past five years.

“In these five years, we have successfully implemented various development initiatives in Sabah,” he said, adding multiple economic sectors have been enhanced, alongside extensive welfare programmes to assist the people.

He said the Government is also focusing on human capital development by providing the largest educational assistance in Sabah’s history.

“In nearly five years, we have spent RM1.3 billion. Scholarships have been increased,” he said.

The Government’s achievements include signing an agreement with Petronas, increasing State revenue from nearly RM4 billion to RM7 billion and growing the State reserves from about RM3 billion to more than RM8 billion.

“This is success and the people must recognise it,” he said, noting that almost 100,000 individuals under eKasih receive the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat Sabah (Syukur) aid of RM300 per month, including housing assistance such as Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ).

“We are on the right track. I hope the people examine this carefully. Don’t follow emotions, but look at the real evidence of GRS Government’s performance over these five years.”

He added the Government is currently implementing various development agendas, including resolving water supply issues which go back to the Warisan Plus administration’s termination of the water contracts.

“We had to pay RM315 million (because of that termination). If there had been no termination, that RM315 million could have been used to build village roads, bridges and so on.” 

Hajiji rejected allegations that the GRS Government is involved in corruption, describing them as politically motivated slander.

“What corruption? We cancelled their mineral prospecting licence applications...that is why those videos came out. All these allegations have malicious political motives,” he said.

“People from there came here trying to teach us. They should have discipline and respect when coming to another state to earn a living. What are they trying to do here?” he asked.

Earlier in his speech, Hajiji expressed gratitude that the long-awaited handover of 1,974 strata titles to 1Borneo shop and house owners and buyers was finally realised.

He said the handover demonstrates the GRS Government’s commitment to expediting the issuance of strata titles, despite some technical constraints that still need to be resolved.

“Clearly, the Government, through the Lands and Surveys Department, has done its utmost to assist Usia as well as the property owners or buyers at 1Borneo,” he said.

He said this development shows the Government’s ongoing commitment to resolving issues related to land and property matters, including proposing a new enactment to further facilitate dealings between developers and owners.

He also expressed appreciation to Usia and the Director of the Lands and Surveys Department for successfully addressing the challenges faced by 1Borneo property owners or buyers.

Since its establishment, 1Borneo has become one of Sabah’s most prominent commercial landmarks and the largest hypermall on Borneo. 

It features four residential blocks with 910 strata titles, 21 titles for 2,300 covered parking spaces, 1,043 commercial titles, including four hotels with approximately 929 rooms.

Hajiji also said the GRS Government would introduce a new enactment to simplify property transactions and management, particularly for projects involving developers and owners such as the 1Borneo development, if given the mandate again in the 17th State Election.

Several existing regulations have been around too long and no longer suitable.

They need to be revised to expedite dealings between buyers, landowners and relevant parties.

He said the new enactment would address technical obstacles that often delay property sales and transfers of ownership.

“Sometimes the existing enactments are no longer entirely suitable as they are decades old. So we need to revise them to make things easier for both buyers and landowners,” he said.