PITAS: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will not force any component to leave the ruling coalition, but it is entirely up to them if they choose to do so in order to be able to contest the coming 17th State Election (PRN17) under their own party logo.
GRS President cum Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor expressed confidence in the coalition’s strength, citing good cooperation among remaining component parties and strong public support.
“God willing, we will win the election. Together with our partners, especially Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), we remain solid and I believe GRS will continue as a strong and stable coalition in Sabah.
Both Star (Parti Solidariti Tanahair Ku) and SAPP (Sabah Progressive Party) decided the leave the coalition on Thursday, in order to enjoy the freedom of contesting any number of seats using their own party symbols.
The remaining six members are Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), United Sabah National Party (Usno) Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS).
“We want to carry on this struggle because we are only halfway through,” he said when officiating the ground breaking ceremony for the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority’s (LPPB) housing and commercial lot project at Kampung Taka, Saturday.
He also said the development agenda under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) policy over the past five years has proven the State Government’s capability in restoring the economy and improving the people’s wellbeing.
The mandate given since September 2020, he said, has not been wasted but translated through the implementation of SMJ.
Despite challenges and criticisms, the Government has remained steadfast in fulfilling the people’s trust.
“SMJ is not just a slogan, it is an action plan that has delivered results,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji announced an additional 10 Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) units in every state constituency starting next year, specifically for newly married young couples.
He said this would raise the total to 50 units per constituency in 2025 compared to 40 units this year.
“Previously, there were only four or five Hardcore Poor Housing Programme (PPRT) units, but this year we are providing 40 Rumah Mesra SMJ.
“Next year, we will increase it to 50 units, with the additional 10 reserved for young couples who are struggling and still living with their families,” he said.
On the LPPB project, Hajiji said it would have a major impact on the Pitas community by creating jobs, business opportunities and services, while also enabling more people to own homes.
“The project involves 320 single-storey semi-detached and terrace houses on 37.6 acres of LPPB land, along with 171 commercial units comprising two-storey shops or offices, a superstore, showroom and kiosks,” he said.
He hoped the joint government-private sector venture would be carried out as scheduled and according to agreements, noting that private involvement would reduce the Government’s financial burden and allow funds to be channelled to other socio-economic and infrastructure needs.
Hajiji said no district, including Pitas, had been neglected in development under GRS, with numerous projects introduced over the past five years.
At the same event, he announced the approval of a mini sports complex worth RM13 million, a public bus terminal costing RM1 million and a cultural house at Dataran Pitas worth RM1.4 million.
He also said that efforts would be made to revive an abandoned prawn farm with Yayasan Sabah and a private company to create jobs, while discussions would be held with Sabah Forestry Development Authority (Safoda) regarding land requested by locals to be excluded from the agency’s area.
Additionally, 468 land titles covering 1,273.432 hectares were presented to recipients, including 228 under the Native Customary Land Survey (Pantas) programme, 239 Native Titles (NT) applications, and one for the Pitas Police Station site.