PENAMPANG: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Moyog resolved to return the State constituency to the care of the government.
It’s Division Chief, Datuk Ceaser Mandela Malakun, said it is imperative that Moyog is released from the opposition.
“We have strong grassroots support and together with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) component parties, including its partners Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, we have brought the resolution to contest in the coming State elections.
“The existing unity will ensure that the people of Moyog, especially the underprivileged, can be further cared for by the government.
“What’s important is that the GRS-PH alliance is preserved so no fractures may occur during the State elections,” he said after the division’s annual general meeting at ITCC, Sunday.
Mandela said Gagasan Rakyat Moyog currently has 3,200 members with 68 branches and it aims for 100 before the elections.
He told the 800 delegates in attendance to follow their President who is also Sabah’s Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s style of sincerely working for the people instead of chasing popularity.
“We don’t have to wait five years to assess the differences between GRS and the previous government because in just two years the results are clear.
“Hajiji works in silence to right the wrongs carried over from the previous government.
“The opposition needs to realise that rhetorical politics without any real outcomes is not the way forward,” he stressed.
Mandela also hoped that Penampang’s youths would benefit from education allocations from the State Budget which is expected to be tabled in November.
He said it is because Penampang has made its mark as the top SPM performers last year.
“This is a good indicator as education can change the fate of their families and community as a whole,” he said, hoping for a favourable allocation from the budget.
Senator Datuk John Ambrose, who is Gagasan Rakyat Supreme Council Member and Honorary Advisor for Moyog, said it is only right that the Moyog seat goes to Gagasan Rakyat.
In his speech, he noted that the Kapayan State constituency already belongs to DAP while the parliamentary seat is Upko’s. Moyog is currently held by Warisan’s Datuk Darell Leiking.
“It’s all up to the top leadership. Our full support must go to whoever is contesting. But for me, if Gagasan Rakyat contests, I foresee an easy win. In fact, we can win in five other divisions including one parliamentary seat.
“Only unity can bring the people development, therefore the responsibility of improving the quality of life is our own.
“Moyog wants flood mitigation, healthcare and education. If these three aspects can be achieved, Warisan will lose their candidate deposit,” he said.
John’s advice to youths entering politics: “Don’t be too worked up on getting positions or you risk hurting your own division chief… Respect your elders,” he said.
He also expressed support for Mandela to run for candidate, river maintenance for flood mitigation, youth trading square in Donggongon and regular anticrime seminars from authorities at villages.
— Ends