Tuaran: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor underscored education, welfare, and economic growth as the cornerstones of his administration, pointing to record-breaking allocations that he says prove the government’s commitment to improving the lives of Sabahans.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the DSP Haji Hajiji Hall and the retirement celebration of the headmaster of SK Bundung on Thursday, Hajiji revealed that under his leadership, the state government has allocated RM1.3 billion for education, the largest such investment in Sabah’s history.
“Education has always been close to my heart and my personal experiences shaped my determination to make it a top priority.
He recalled his own struggles as a student, sharing how his late mother had to borrow RM15 to pay for his examination fees.
“That memory has never left me, it is why I introduced assistance programmes for students today. I do not want any child in Sabah to be left behind simply because their parents cannot afford the fees,” he said.
According to Hajiji, the government had significantly expanded scholarships, raising the allocation from RM50 million in previous years to RM138 million this year alone, with plans to add another RM200 million in the near future.
“Thousands of Form 5 and Form 6 students now receive RM200 each before sitting for their exams, while more than 10,000 Sabahan students at universities across the country have received RM300 allowances to travel home for festive holidays.
“These measures are designed to ease the burden on families, especially those from low-income backgrounds. They reflect our belief that education is the foundation of success and the key to Sabah’s future prosperity,” he said.
Beyond education, Hajiji highlighted that the state government is also providing monthly cash assistance of RM300 to 100,000 hardcore poor households, the largest welfare outreach ever undertaken in Sabah.
In addition, the Welfare Department has expanded its registry by 40,000 new names, ensuring that more families in need are reached.
“We understand the challenges of rising living costs and we want to make sure no family is left behind. This government is serious about addressing poverty,” he stressed.
On the economic front, Hajiji said Sabah has successfully secured major investments that are expected to transform the state’s economy. These include RM19 billion from Singapore, as well as significant projects in the oil and gas sector through collaborations with Petronas.
He argued that these investments reflect the confidence international and local investors have in Sabah’s pro-investment policies.
“In the past, Sabahans had to leave for Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru or even Singapore to find work. Now, we are bringing investments here so that opportunities are created at home,” he said.
Hajiji dismissed criticism from the opposition that his administration has failed, calling such claims untrue and unfair.
”The facts clearly show that the current government has done more for education, welfare, and economic development than any previous administration.
“The opposition can say what they want, but when they were in power, what did they actually do? Compare their record with what we have achieved today. The difference is clear,” he said.
Hajiji concluded that the government’s focus on education, welfare, and investment will remain the pillars of Sabah’s progress.
“Our goal has always been to build a stronger, fairer Sabah. These achievements are not about me personally, but about what we can do together for the people,” he said.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the DSP Haji Hajiji Hall and the retirement celebration of the headmaster of SK Bundung on Thursday, Hajiji revealed that under his leadership, the state government has allocated RM1.3 billion for education, the largest such investment in Sabah’s history.
“Education has always been close to my heart and my personal experiences shaped my determination to make it a top priority.
He recalled his own struggles as a student, sharing how his late mother had to borrow RM15 to pay for his examination fees.
“That memory has never left me, it is why I introduced assistance programmes for students today. I do not want any child in Sabah to be left behind simply because their parents cannot afford the fees,” he said.
According to Hajiji, the government had significantly expanded scholarships, raising the allocation from RM50 million in previous years to RM138 million this year alone, with plans to add another RM200 million in the near future.
“Thousands of Form 5 and Form 6 students now receive RM200 each before sitting for their exams, while more than 10,000 Sabahan students at universities across the country have received RM300 allowances to travel home for festive holidays.
“These measures are designed to ease the burden on families, especially those from low-income backgrounds. They reflect our belief that education is the foundation of success and the key to Sabah’s future prosperity,” he said.
Beyond education, Hajiji highlighted that the state government is also providing monthly cash assistance of RM300 to 100,000 hardcore poor households, the largest welfare outreach ever undertaken in Sabah.
In addition, the Welfare Department has expanded its registry by 40,000 new names, ensuring that more families in need are reached.
“We understand the challenges of rising living costs and we want to make sure no family is left behind. This government is serious about addressing poverty,” he stressed.
On the economic front, Hajiji said Sabah has successfully secured major investments that are expected to transform the state’s economy. These include RM19 billion from Singapore, as well as significant projects in the oil and gas sector through collaborations with Petronas.
He argued that these investments reflect the confidence international and local investors have in Sabah’s pro-investment policies.
“In the past, Sabahans had to leave for Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru or even Singapore to find work. Now, we are bringing investments here so that opportunities are created at home,” he said.
Hajiji dismissed criticism from the opposition that his administration has failed, calling such claims untrue and unfair.
”The facts clearly show that the current government has done more for education, welfare, and economic development than any previous administration.
“The opposition can say what they want, but when they were in power, what did they actually do? Compare their record with what we have achieved today. The difference is clear,” he said.
Hajiji concluded that the government’s focus on education, welfare, and investment will remain the pillars of Sabah’s progress.
“Our goal has always been to build a stronger, fairer Sabah. These achievements are not about me personally, but about what we can do together for the people,” he said.