Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor urged State and Federal civil servants to continue to support the State Government led by him in developing the state and prospering the people.
“Now is the time for us to work hard, rebuild the State’s economy and advance the people.
“This is the time to work. Time to walk the talk and deliver what we have planned for the people. Believe me, each of us wants a stable government, a prosperous state and country so that we can live in peace and happiness.
“As public service members, we should focus fully on all efforts to rebuild the State’s economy and take care of the people,” he said at the Prime Minister’s Mandate for State and Federal civil servants at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here, Tuesday.
The ceremony, which was also attended by the Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was the largest gathering of civil servants and the first time a PM had attended to deliver his mandate to public service members in Sabah.
Hajiji said even though he has only been leading Sabah for more than two years, the challenges and tests he has gone through are extraordinary.
“Apart from the threat of the pandemic, we are also faced with the challenge of political and economic turmoil, and while we were preparing all strategies to strengthen the administration and restore the State’s economy, suddenly a new test comes in the form of an attempt to disrupt and topple the Government.
“It’s amazing the trials and tribulations that came one after the other. However, I’m very fortunate, because I have friends in the state leadership, including the government machinery, that is public service members who continue to give support in our persistent efforts to develop the State and make the people prosperous,” he said.
In taking a step forward, Hajiji invited the public service members to redouble their efforts and service to the State, the people and the community with high responsibility and commitment in shouldering the trust and responsibility in ensuring that the State is administered and managed with excellence, while the people are defended to the best of their ability.
He said as the machinery for implementing the Government’s policies and development programmes, the public service members are catalysts for the realisation of whatever policies and plans have been set by the Government.
According to him, in the context of Sabah, the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan 1.0 is a vehicle for putting Sabah on the right track towards holistic progress and development that includes economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of the people.
He said the approach is in line with the aspirations of the Prime Minister who has introduced the big idea of Malaysia Madani, as a new paradigm for the country to develop policy directions and implement strategies that cross all sectors, including humanity and human capital, towards re-raising the country’s dignity on the world stage.
“It is not an exaggeration if I say that Sabah was the first State to welcome the concept of Malaysia Madani by organising seminars, forums and workshops to explore and deepen the concept of Malaysia Madani.
“I hope that all public service members will always be open and ready to face changes and challenges, in accordance with current developments and needs, and never be easily comfortable with existing achievements. Be creative civil servants, be proactive and have the spirit to strive for success in a healthy way, with integrity and avoid corruption.
“We should not easily feel complacent with the achievements we have, because our journey is still long and winding. Therefore, we need to speed up the steps so that our actions are not only fast and agile but also right on target in ensuring progress and success.
“Redouble our efforts, ‘work hard’ and ‘work smart’ to maintain our record of success and excellence in managing and administering this beloved State. Public service members are government machinery that is also responsible for ensuring an increase in state revenue. If the State’s revenue can be increased, of course, it will provide great benefits to all the people, including among the civil servants themselves who will receive various incentives and remuneration,” he added.
Hajiji also thanked the hard work of all parties that last year Sabah managed to collect RM7 billion in revenue, which is far beyond the target, while the investment value reached RM33 billion, involving several investor companies from within and outside the country.
He said this success is also the success of the public service members who have shown proud commitment and hard work.
Hajiji also touched on the achievements of the State Government under his leadership in the past two years, among which was the signing of the Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) with Petronas based on the principle of “Greater Say, Greater Participation and Greater Revenue”, passing two Bills namely the Sabah Energy Commission and the Gas Supply Bill 2023, which gives Sabah full authority in the management of gas supply, including electricity operations from January 1, 2024.
“It should be remembered that this success proves the Prime Minister’s support and concern for the demands we put forward regarding the rights of Sabah as enshrined in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63),” he stressed.
Hajiji also expressed his gratitude to Anwar who has allocated RM6.5 billion for the development of Sabah in the revised Federal 2023 Budget.
He said being the second largest state in Malaysia, Sabah needs a large allocation to continue the development agenda in a State that is still far behind.
He said the RM6.5 billion allocation does not actually include several other initiatives, including the implementation of the Pan Borneo Sabah/Sarawak project amounting to RM20 billion and another RM1 billion to develop the border area of Sabah with Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Hajiji is also confident that Malaysia can rise again to become a respected country under Anwar’s dynamic leadership.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.