HAJIJI TO BE SWORN IN TODAY
PN, BN and PBS leaders say his vast experience will stand him in good stead
news@nst.com.my
DATUK Seri Hajiji Noor received his appointment letter as the new Sabah chief minister from Istana Negeri yesterday. He said Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin had extended an invitation letter about 4pm to him for his swearing-in ceremony scheduled at 10am today.
“The Yang di-Pertua Negeri has extended the invitation, informing that I will be sworn in as Sabah chief minister.
“The palace has informed me that I will be sworn in at 10am tomorrow (today),” the Sabah Perikatan Nasional chairman told reporters after his audience with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
After the handing over of the letter, a rehearsal for the ceremony took place at Istana Negeri.
Meanwhile, Sabah Progressive Party president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said they welcomed Hajiji’s appointment as chief minister.
“Datuk Hajiji is a well-known leader with vast experience in administration and is well accepted by the people.
“He has the leadership required by the people and can unite all communities in the state. His good relationship with the prime minister and leaders at the federal level will help in forming a good and efficient collaboration between the state and federal governments.”
Yong said the people had just chosen a new government that was in line with the federal government through a democratic process.
“It will help to overcome social and economic challenges in the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak,” Yong added.
Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) viewed the decision to nominate Hajiji as Sabah’s 16th chief minister as appropriate.
Bernama quoted its president, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, as saying the decision was consistent with PBS’ proposal and stand during the 16th state election, while other parties made their decision based on the outcome of the just-concluded election.
Ongkili said PBS was confident that with the support of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) members, Hajiji would be able to execute his duties well based on his vast experience as a former senior member of the state cabinet and seven-term assemblyman.
“PBS also believes that Hajiji
will be able to honour the mandate given by the rakyat and lead Sabah and the state administration as the chief minister for all Sabahans,” Ongkili said in a statement.
Earlier, the parties in GRS, comprising PN, Barisan Nasional (BN) and PBS, unanimously agreed to name Hajiji, who is also Sabah Bersatu chief, as the candidate for the post of Sabah chief minister.
Hajiji defended the Sulaman seat, which he has been contesting since 1990, with a 3,099-vote majority.
Meanwhile, former Sabah chief minister Datuk Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the Sulaman state assemblyman was an experienced politician and capable of leading the Sabah government well.
“I am confident he (Hajiji) is capable of taking Sabah to a better era of development,” he said.
GRS secured a clear majority to take over the reins of the state government from Parti Warisan Sabah in the state election. It obtained 38 out of 73 seats in the assembly.
Earlier, Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin expressed confidence that GRS would be able to restore the confidence of the people in the state government.
“We (GRS) agreed to name Hajiji as chief minister based on the awareness and confidence that the state government to be established is capable of rehabilitating the spirit of the people towards the new administration.
“It is one of the major responsibilities of the state government. GRS focus is on efforts to develop Sabah,” he said after attending a closed-door GRS meeting yesterday.