Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor his blessings to remain as Sabah’s Chief Minister while finding a way to solidify the state government.
“Yes, I am giving him (the) blessing. He is the Chief Minister,” he said to the reporters after an hour-long meeting with assemblymen who supported Hajiji at Sri Gaya last night (9 January).
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hajiji and other assemblymen.
“I would like to thank the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji and others for being together to listen to all opinions and (for the presence of) Deputy Prime Minister Zahid.”
“We want a strong Sabah government under the leadership of the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji,” Anwar was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.
#KotaKinabalu PM @anwaribrahim, TPM @DrZahidHamidi & Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor ketika pertemuan dengan pemimpin Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, Pakatan Harapan & Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri UMNO yang menyokong kepimpinan Ketua Menteri, malam ini
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) January 9, 2023
📸 Zamain Singkui/BERNAMA pic.twitter.com/j3rdq2t9rm
Returning Sabah’s autonomous rights
Meanwhile, Anwar said that the government would have an important law to return Sabah its autonomous rights tabled in the State Assembly.
“This is a big change, for me, this is the priority, give the opportunity for the Chief Minister to discuss and find the best formula for a better Sabah,” he said.
Since last Friday, the Sabah state government has been in turmoil after a majority of Sabah UMNO’s assemblymen withdrew support and put Hajiji’s position in jeopardy.
However, Hajiji quickly responded that he managed to maintain the support of five out of 17 Sabah UMNO’s assemblymen, plus Pakatan Harapan’s seven assemblymen.
It is believed that Hajiji now has 44 assemblymen backing him, which is more than half of the 79-seat State Assembly.
