Kota Kinabalu: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Information Chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (pic) dismissed the likelihood of the State election being called anytime soon following a bribery scandal purportedly involving certain assemblymen.
He said the alleged mining scandal is already being investigated by the relevant authorities.
The Kiulu Assemblyman told a meet-the-people session at Kg Nadau-Pomorian, Saturday, that the GRS-PH coalition under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor remains united and resilient and any attempt to destabilise the government would fail.
“The State Government is firmly committed to upholding political stability and delivering on its mandate to the people of Sabah,” he said, adding the State Government had just tabled a massive RM6.45 billion state budget, the biggest in Sabah’s history.
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“We will not allow any quarters who are hell-bent on undermining the Sabah government by painting a picture of uncertainty in the State,” he said to loud applause.
Joniston, who is also Parti Bersatu Information Chief, said the State leadership has been working very hard, and this was reflected in the marked increase in State revenue of nearly RM7 billion.
On the alleged scandal, he said, the State government is very open and transparent in its administration.
He said Hajiji had assured that the State Government had nothing to hide. He even confirmed that no mining licences have been issued and that the videos is the work of a frustrated mining applicant who failed to secure approval for mining that involved one million acres.
“It appears that some quarters could not fathom seeing a State Government led by local parties performing very well,” Joniston said.
He also did not rule out the possibility that those involved in the failed attempt to unseat Hajiji in early 2022 could be behind the latest bribery allegation.
“There seems to be a concerted effort with a well-planned agenda perpetrated by certain quarters to demonise the Hajiji-led State government in a desperate hope to get the support of the people.
“It is interesting to note that a certain peninsula-based party is in the forefront in calling on the State Government to be replaced and for Hajiji to resign as Chief Minister.”
Joniston said there is no reason for Hajiji to resign as he has the full support of the GRS-PH Assemblymen.
“I believe the people of Sabah are wise to ‘read their game’ and know what to do in the coming State election,” Joniston said.