CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor officially launched Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS or Gagasan Rakyat) on March 2, saying Sabahans finally have a party they can call “home” and which will strengthen the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS coalition’s) struggle.
“Finally, we have our own home. This party is our home, which we will care for. In our home we are the masters and will preserve as best we can,” he told the audience at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu.
He said political developments in the last five years produced two significant trends, namely that Sabahans want a local party to lead Sabah while, at the same time, inclusiveness through the participation of multiple parties rather than one single party as happened in the past.
“A government that has a ‘checks and balances’ element that is strong yet inclusive.” He said cooperation with national parties should not be rejected because we need to live in a federal ‘ecosystem’.”
However, from a state government perspective, Sabahans want a local party and Gagasan Rakyat would act as a vessel that prioritises Sabah’s interests based on the Sayangi Sabah agenda which is the foundation of GRS along the lines of Sabah First, Sabah Forward, Sabah Prosper and Sabah United. He is confident that solidarity would make Sabah’s voice stronger and more effective. “We will be respected if we are strong and united,” he said.
“The GRS consensus is important in ensuring Sabah’s interests continue to be defended in the Federation of Malaysia,” said Hajiji, who is also President of Gagasan Rakyat. In terms of the state governance framework, the people want a government led by a local image.
“The presence of national parties remains relevant as long as the spirit, core and agenda of the State’s struggle are never compromised. The synergy of local and national elements must be based on the principle of putting the interests of the State as a priority agenda (Sabah First) and positioning the interests of the State as an important component of the national agenda.
“A more advanced and successful Sabah will certainly contribute to a Malaysia Madani Federation, which is a more holistic concept of progress that includes all aspects,” he stressed.
More than 10,000 people attend the launch of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji noted that the first three Sabah governments (Usno, Berjaya and PBS) were actually local parties, but of a “single party” nature.
“We learn and take examples from the long experience we have gone through together. We should implement reforms with a more inclusive and constructive power-sharing model. We should avoid power that is very strongly centralised to one particular pole, either inclined to the group represented or bound to the tendencies of a leadership,” he stressed.
Hajiji also invited friends from other parties who share the agenda of the struggle to initiate more valuable and meaningful cooperation with GRS based on the Sabah Consensus. He said this consensus needs to be not only at the leadership level but also at the grassroots.
He said GRS is open to working with any party that upholds and recognises Sabah’s rights and interests, including respecting the freedom and legitimacy of Sabah’s leaders and people.
He thanked national leaders who respected the decisions of local leaders in determining the direction of the state leadership. Hajiji also appreciated the State Legislative Assembly members who have given him the mandate and trust to continue leading the State Government.
He is grateful that despite an attempted political coup, he is supported by a team that is more inclusive and responsive to the priorities of making Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) a success.
He said the direction of SMJ, which would enter two years on March 29, 2023, has achieved success after success, including an increase in state revenue approaching the RM7 billion mark compared to RM4 billion when it started.
“We need to ensure that all plans are implemented, in addition to identifying strategies and exploring new opportunities and potentials. This includes efforts to attract more investment to Sabah under the SMJ investor-friendly initiatives. To date, we have achieved record foreign direct investment as well as domestic investment totalling RM33.4 billion,” he said. Speaking to reporters later, Hajiji said GRS has already fulfilled the aspiration of Sabahans who want the coalition to consist only of all Sabah-based local parties, similar to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) with former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia members in Sabah now in Gagasan Rakyat.
“Now we have GRS and in GRS now we have a new local party. Previously when Bersatu was in GRS, many people said GRS was different from Sarawak (GPS). Now, we have all local parties in GRS, so it is up to the people whether it (GRS) is similar to Sarawak, including in its struggle. But we already fulfilled the aspiration of Sabahans to use a local party,” he said. Gagasan would proceed with the setting up of branches and divisions and to get as many members as possible from all the state constituencies.
“From the large turnout at today’s launching, I am very confident that Gagasan Rakyat will be well accepted by the people and definitely we will also be together with friends in component parties in the Government, especially GRS and also Pakatan Harapan, continue to administer and manage Sabah,” he said.
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