Kota Kinabalu: GRS head Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor revealed that some Federal leaders are fearful that Sabah will gang up with Sarawak and be more assertive on issues affecting both territories.
He said this approach towards Sabah – especially towards the Borneo Bloc where both states may take a joint stand on issues – was what forced him to dump Perikatan Nasional (PN) and realign with the current Unity Government.
Hajiji recalled a meeting in the nation’s capital together with Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan where a certain PN leader said he did not want to hear about the Borneo Bloc anymore.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“During that meeting, this leader even told us bluntly that ‘the Master is here.’
“He didn’t want us sharing experiences with Sarawak and didn’t value our aspirations,” Hajiji said, adding that the incident triggered a deep personal reflection among them (he, Jeffrey and Masidi).
“I thought long and hard about what he meant. Eventually, my heart turned cold towards them. That was the moment I realised something had to change.
“For Sabah, the master is here. This is our land, we are the ones who shape its future, not those who come from elsewhere thinking they can dictate to us,” he said.
Hajiji praised the Unity Government for listening and acting on Sabah’s long-standing demands, especially those under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, many of our demands have finally been approved.
“What was once impossible such as the devolution of powers is now becoming a reality. That’s why GRS continues to support this government because it listens,” he said.
Thus, he said, the decision to align with the Unity Government was not made lightly as it involved Sabah’s dignity.
“If this government is good for our state, why shouldn’t we support it?” he said.
Hajiji also confirmed he would accompany Anwar during his visit to Jakarta where discussions would include cross-border cooperation, particularly on issues related to the Sulawesi Sea.
“This is how a partnership should work. Equal footing, mutual respect and real conversations about our future. For Sabah, GRS will stay united. Our priority is always Sabah,” he said.
