Upko's entry strengthens Sabah political stability, says Hajiji

 

GRS chairman says party’s membership will enhance cooperation among local parties. COURTESY: SABAH CHIEF MINISTER’S OFFICE

PENAMPANG: Upko's entry into Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will further strengthen political stability in Sabah, said GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

He said the party, led by its president Datuk Ewon Benedick, would also enhance cooperation among local parties in efforts to develop Sabah.

"In fact, when we received Upko's application to join GRS, we saw it as a positive development in Sabah politics and welcomed it with an open heart.

"With political stability assured, it will certainly be easier for the Sabah government to focus on the people's development agenda, the state's economic prosperity and infrastructure development," he said when speaking at Upko's 32nd Anniversary Celebration and 17th Triennial Delegates Conference at Hongkod Koisaan Hall, KDCA, here.

He said that as partners in GRS, the component parties might come from different backgrounds and have different foundations in their respective struggles, but they were all under the same roof and fighting for the same land of Sabah.

Hajiji, who is also Sabah Chief Minister, said he greatly appreciated the strong support extended by Ewon and Upko members throughout his tenure, which had enabled him to lead Sabah's development through the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 development plan, now continued under SMJ 2.0.

He said Ewon's appointment as one of the three Deputy Chief Ministers, as well as Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, carried a major responsibility to ensure Sabah's investment, industrial development and entrepreneurship agendas were successfully realised in line with the objectives of SMJ 2.0.

Hajiji said strong political unity and close cooperation were key to a more developed, successful 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 that we will leave behind for them," he said.

Also present were Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Chin Su Phin, and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) president Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah.

GRS comprises Parti Gagasan Rakyat, Parti Cinta Sabah, LDP, PBS, Harapan and Upko.