Sabah must avoid conflict with Putrajaya, says Hajiji

The caretaker chief minister says a strained relationship would be detrimental to Sabahans in the long run.

Caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is ‘deeply concerned about Sabah’ and ‘genuinely cares for the state’.

KOTA KINABALU:

 Caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor has called for Sabah-Putrajaya ties to remain free of friction, stressing that the relationship must be anchored in wisdom, maturity, and shared responsibility.

Hajiji warned that strained federal-state relations would ultimately hurt Sabahans, citing historical examples where hostility has led to stalled development and deadlocked negotiations.

“What do we get if Sabah is led by a party that isn’t friendly with the federal government?” he asked.

In an exclusive interview with FMT, Hajiji said Sabah cannot claim the moral high ground simply by casting Putrajaya as the enemy.

He criticised the confrontational stance taken by previous state administrations, saying it had failed to deliver meaningful outcomes for Sabah.

“There’s no need to strain ties when claiming our rights. We also need to look out for our country, Malaysia,” he said.

Hajiji said this was why he preferred a more diplomatic approach in pursuing Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

He said a cordial relationship with the federal government would allow unresolved issues to be brought to the negotiation table – a stark contrast to the era when Sabah was “silenced”.

Hajiji also praised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for being more responsive to Sabah’s needs.

“He is deeply concerned about Sabah, and I believe Sabahans will remember him as a prime minister who genuinely cared for the state.”

Since Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) took over the state administration in 2020, Hajiji said many previously overlooked requests were now being reviewed.

“This is something Sabahans should appreciate,” he added.

Rejecting populist and antagonistic politicking, Hajiji stressed the importance of long-term cooperation with federal authorities.

“The federal government is not responsible for Sabah alone. And if we were to pick a fight with them, it would be difficult, when the time comes, to work with them.”

He said Sabah needed politics that delivered results, not tension.

“We want political stability, so we need a stronger bond.”

Hajiji added that Sabah’s vast geography required federal support to carry out development projects, especially in rural areas.

“We need help with water supply, road maintenance, and bridge construction,” he said. - FMT