When Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor took over the reins of Sabah in September 2020, the state was staring into the abyss. It was at the bottom of the ladder on all vital indices of human development and the administrative structure had completely collapsed. The state had become synonymous with kidnappings, corruption and illegal immigrants, the criminal-politician nexus was getting more pronounced, businessmen had started quitting the state in large numbers and funds meant for federal-sponsored schemes were often returned unspent. There was a growing perception that Sabah was doomed, a mini-Tawi-Tawi in the heart of Sabah.
It’s been over four years since Hajiji took charge, and the winds of change have started blowing across the state. People’s faith in governance and the rule of law have largely been restored. The sense of despondency and gloom has been replaced by an air of optimism. “Sabahan pride”, which had become a pejorative phrase in the past couple of decades, is being invoked once again.
When Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) assumed power in Sabah in September, 2020, Hajiji found, much to his dismay, that there had been a systemic collapse. Administration was being run on the basis of ad-hocism and personal whims. Cabinet meetings were held rarely. The chief minister’s office was in shambles. There was no rule of law. In short, there was a free-for-all.
In the four years that he has been at the helm, the state has scripted a remarkable turnaround, which has been vindicated by data collated by The Department of Statistic.
A manifestation of the turnaround in the law and order and infrastructure sectors could be gauged from the fact that the number of tourist arrivals in the state has shot up from 1,423,181 in 2023 to 1,761, 651 until July 2024.
Sabah’s record revenue of RM7 billion last year has made it among the top 6 states contributing to Malaysia’s 2023 Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Sabah contributed 5.5% to the nation’s GDP for 2023.
Together with Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johore, Sarawak and Penang, Sabah contributed 73% to the nation’s economy.
China is Sabah’s largest trading partner, chalking a bilateral trade value totalling RM10.7 billion last year. And now, Sabah is determined to push the investment momentum from China & to ensure Sabah will remain an attractive destination for investments. Sabah’s economic ties with China are driven by strong trade, investment, and collaborative projects across sectors.
For the manufacturing sector, Sabah received RM3.07 billion in investments from China to date , which have created 3,086 jobs. These investments involved solar glass manufacturing, silica and processing, food industry, rubber products, wood- based products and plastic products.
In 2023, Sabah’s total trade was valued at RM41.463 billion, with main exports comprising palm oil at RM15.291 billion, liquefied natural gas (LNG) at RM5.051 billion, crude petroleum at RM2.548 billion, palm kernel oil at RM1.289 billion and palm oil-based oleochemicals at RM1.123 billion.
So from containing the Corona infection, which was at the peak when Hajiji first took office in 2020, to toning up the government machinery at all levels, from attracting new investments to finding quick solutions to emerging issues, “high speed” has been the hallmark of the GRS government from the get-go.
Chief Minister Hajiji’s single motto of the government has been delivering services to the people at the earliest. In a nutshell, Hajiji has proved his mettle.
Hajiji is doing an excellent job getting Sabah back on Track.
*The author, Selvaraja Somiah is a geologist turned freelance writer .
**The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sabah Baru News.
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