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SABAH Umno today poured cold water on Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s last term plans, arguing the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman has little to show despite over three decades in government.
Sabah Umno Information Chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir said Hajiji’s 35 years in politics, including 31 years in cabinet, have not translated into progress for ordinary Sabahans.
Instead, he said, Hajiji’s as chief minister was marred with broken roads, unstable electricity, water shortages and the country’s highest unemployment rate.
He said Hajiji should not delay his retirement and just step down now.
“After almost five years leading the state, the rakyat are still facing damaged roads, an unreliable electricity supply, a prolonged water crisis, and a 7.7% unemployment rate as of the final quarter of 2024.
“Add to that the mineral licence scandal which has tainted the integrity of this government, and it is clear the GRS administration cannot be defended,” said Suhaimi, who is also Libaran MP, in a statement from Kota Kinabalu.
Hajiji served under five political banners and announced last week that the upcoming state election would be his last in what is seen as a call to keep his chief minister position for another term.
The Sulaman assemblyman was a member of Usno, Umno and Bersatu, before becoming the president of Gagasan Rakyat party.
“Hajiji’s announcement to ‘rest’ after the state election is not a noble withdrawal but an exit strategy to avoid a heavier political burden.
“If he is already tired, he should just step aside now,” he said.
Suhaimi added that Sabahans deserve leadership that is clean, credible, and capable of solving bread-and-butter issues rather than recycling promises and “hollow investment gimmicks.”
“GRS has proven itself the most failed government in Sabah’s history, failing to safeguard integrity, failing to resolve basic problems of the people, and failing to present a realistic economic plan,” Suhaimi said.
Suhaimi is referring to the constant announcements by Hajiji that the state has achieved record revenues since taking the chief minister position.
His recent announcement was that Sabah revenue has peaked to RM7 billion as opposed to RM4 billion before. - August 28, 2025