Hajiji will likely be pressured to call for early election — Warisan
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan is unperturbed with the recent announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor that the State election will only be held next year.
The party’s Wanita chief, Norfaizah Chua instead speculated that, notwithstanding his desire for a full term, Hajiji will likely call for election well before the end of this 2024 due to the political pressure he is facing within GRS besides the obvious failures of his government to suppress the Sabahans’ dissatisfaction.
“He gave a dry, clichetype reasoning of ‘serving the people’ so we think that his announcement is nothing more than an outdated, childish ruse that cannot be used anymore in today’s Sabah politics.
“He should have also outlined, subsequent to his announcement, the targets or KPIs that he wanted to achieve during the remaining 12 months or so but nothing came out after a few days passed by.
“Perhaps sensing that GRS may no longer be in power after PRN17, his reasoning resembled those ‘soon-to-retire’ who no longer have the zeal to pursue new targets.
“So whether the election will be held by this year or not, it will not change the Sabahans’ mind on his performance or affect our preparation,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.
Norfaizah believes that Sabahans’ frustration with GRS is evidenced when the social media are flooded with criticisms towards the ruling coalition.
“Our JPRN unit noted that for the past two years, most Sabahans are generally unsatisfied with the lack of leadership, assertiveness and efficiency shown by Hajiji on myriads of people’s issues.
“I don’t think the criticisms are due to political affiliation but because of ‘misplaced priorities’ by GRS itself such as the proposal to relocate KKIA to Kimanis and their incapability to mitigate many issues confronting Sabahans such as the skyrocketing cost of essential goods and foods in the State,” she explained.
Norfaizah also believes that the combination of Warisan’s senior and young new leaders under the stewardship of Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Darell Leiking will provide solutions to the immediate issues plaguing the State.
“In mere 17 months, Warisan managed to come out with the 21 Issues of MA63 so we can also put our focus and energy on other issues too.
“JPRN had identified several new targets for Warisan to achieve once it formed the new State Government such as alleviating the State’s absolute poverty incidence, creating diversified high and medium value industries, and enhancing a competent governance.
“Warisan is far more experienced and ambitious today than it was in 2017 and the ditching by several ex-Warisan YBs and divisional leaders to GRS is actually a blessing in disguise.
“Their departure allowed our talented young leaders to go up and once the party forms the new State Government, they will have the opportunity to play important roles as primemovers to enable the party to achieve the said new targets.
“Whereas some of these former Warisan leaders that ‘frogged’ may finally realize it by now that in GRS, they’re confined to the bottom rung and no longer have that leadership capacity they once enjoyed,” she concluded.