Kota Kinabalu: Sabah MCA has pledged support for the State Government helmed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Its Chairman Lu Yen Tung said the stand was reached during a meeting among Sabah MCA Division Chairmen and affirmed by the MCA Central Committee in a meeting on Saturday.
Last month, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) led by its Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin had attempted to topple Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s government. Lu said the party has never been involved in any attempt to oust the State Government.
“Undertaking our role earnestly, Sabah MCA serves as a bridge between the State Government and the rakyat (people).
“We will assist the State Government to execute policies and voice out for people to ensure that the principles of diversity, moderation and justice to safeguard the rights of all Sabahans are upheld, whilst striving to promote the development of the State economy, to propel Sabah ahead.
“In the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement, the party’s Central Committee has empowered MCA Sabah with wider autonomy.
“Leveraging on this autonomy, Sabah MCA will contribute proposals towards Sabah’s policy making to safeguard the rights and interests of all Sabahans,” he said in a statement.
Lu also said under the leadership of Hajiji, the growth has been given a boost, and is now geared towards prosperity and progress.
Meanwhile, Datuk Masiung Banah has decided to join Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) after being an independent-friendly assemblyman for over three years.
“After taking time and considering the views of fellow leaders in Kuamut, I finally accepted the offer as Vice President of PGRS,” he said, upon returning from a six-day visit to Manila with a delegation of government officials and Tongod district leaders.
At the PGRS Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), Masiung was announced as Vice President together with Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation Minister, Datuk Dr Arifin Arif and Kemabong representative, Datuk Rubin Balang.
“I express my appreciation to the Chief Minister for his trust in placing me as a top five in the highest leadership of PGRS,” he said.
The Kuamut Assemblyman cited four reasons for him to be in the top leadership ranks of PGRS.
“First, I have high confidence in the ability of Hajiji, who is also the president of the party, to unite local and national parties under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
“Secondly, the leadership behind GRS led by PGRS, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) and Usno which established cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) are seasoned politicians who helped the Chief Minister stabilise Sabah’s previously chaotic politics.
“The existing cooperative relationship between the leaders of the Sabah and Federal governments will make it easier for people’s development programmes to be achieved through the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan.
“The GRS government under the leadership of Hajiji is also in the final process of resolving the issue (MA63),” he said.
Masiung said it is most important to continue the agenda of the Sabah Government to develop the rural population in a targeted manner in line with the agenda of the Unity Government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
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