At First Gagasan Congress Hajiji Sounds Warning Against Coups

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Hajiji Noor speaking at his first Gagasan Rakyat Sabah congress in Kota Kinabalu today after taking over the party earlier this year. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah held its first congress today under the leadership of Hajiji Noor, with the party president sounding a warning against attempted “coups” to overthrow the state government.
Hajiji described the attempt in January to unseat him as chief minister as a black mark in Sabah’s history and said it must not be repeated, Utusan Borneo reported.
“The people became anxious and concerned over the possibility of yet another state general election. It was a situation which should never have occurred as it gives the perception of political instability.
“But thanks to the support of Sabah Pakatan Harapan, our friends who used to be our rivals, the government led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah was saved,” he said. “That incident allowed us to determine who are our friends and foes and, most importantly, to know the heart of our true friends.
The failed attempt to unseat Hajiji’s government led to Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Bung Moktar Radin being booted out of the state Cabinet, among other changes.
Sabah PH was then roped in to form the state government while several Sabah Umno assemblymen decided to continue backing Hajiji. This led to their suspensions from the party.
Currently, Sabah BN sits on the opposition bench with Warisan.
Hajiji became Gagasan Rakyat president in February, two months after he led a group of supporters and elected representatives out of Sabah Bersatu following the general election in November last year.
The attendance at Gagasan Rakyat’s congress was reportedly in the thousands, a historic achievement for the previously less-known party registered in 2013.
At today’s congress, Hajiji brought together four former chief ministers – Musa Aman, Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Osu Sukam and Yong Teck Lee – as guests of honour.
Yong is president of the Sabah Progressive Party, which is a member of the federal opposition coalition of Perikatan Nasional.
When asked whether the presence of the ex-chief ministers were a show of GRS’s strong political sway in the state, Hajiji said they were simply there to “give moral support”.
“We have to give them respect by inviting them to come to these meetings. They came so we can show them some appreciation and get their advice and observation on the struggle today,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying. - FMT

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