Madani Respects Sabahans Clear Demand For Change Says Pm

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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today said the Madani government will respect the wishes of Sabahan voters, whom he said had sent a clear demand for change through yesterday’s state election.
This was after his own coalition, Pakatan Harapan, suffered a catastrophic defeat in the polls but still managed to be part of the new state government under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which is a local-based coalition led by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
In a statement, Anwar said his administration will continue to be consistent in its reform efforts to improve the situation for Sabah.
“The Madani government fully respects the firm and clear message sent by Sabah voters who want real change after having endured prolonged injustice and neglect by almost all parties, whether from the peninsula or from Sabah itself.
“Alhamdulillah, over the past three years, we have worked to resolve every inherited issue, including matters of claims and rights involving Sabah’s interests. In this short period, several concrete progress steps have been achieved regarding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“Therefore, the Madani government will remain consistent on this path of reform as part of our efforts to build a fair, equitable, prosperous Sabah that is no longer marginalised.
Sabah state legislative assembly“The voice of the people of Sabah is a trust that we must uphold with utmost responsibility,” he said.
The prime minister also congratulated Hajiji for his renewed mandate to lead the state.
Harapan, BN, and PN lose big
The 17th Sabah state election that concluded yesterday saw GRS retain its hold of the land below the wind while peninsula-based parties were almost decimated.
This includes Harapan, which suffered major losses, only managing to win one seat out of the state assembly’s 73.
Its component party, DAP, lost all eight of its contests, including six constituencies that it won with large majorities in the 2020 election.
A DAP dinner in Sabah, Nov 26PKR, of which Anwar is the president, contested 12 seats but only secured one through its Melalap candidate Jamawi Jaafar, who is a former member of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan).
BN’s chapter in Sabah, which aimed to displace GRS and Warisan in Muslim bumiputera-majority seats, only managed to capture six out of the 45 seats it contested.
Another casualty was PN, which fielded candidates in 42 seats but won only one - a history-making victory by the Islamist party PAS in Karambunai. - Mkini

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