KOTA KINABALU: The State Government is committed to pursuing development and creating opportunities for economic prosperity for the people of Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
“I thank the rakyat for your continuous support and for entrusting the GRS-PH Plus Government to lead. Let’s unite in solidarity, prioritising unity for political stability in our beloved state,” he said in his New Year message.
“Let us look ahead to the new year for a renewed commitment to continue our success stories and development objectives. The year 2025 will be a year for us to be assertive and to push our goals for the people’s wellbeing,” he stressed.
“2024 has been a good year. We have done our best to surmount various challenges
and stayed on course to achieve our goals. Notably, our revenue collection has reached close to RM7 billion and we have secured some RM1.7 billion in foreign and domestic investments for 2024.
“We will keep this momentum to focus on the development of the three main pillars under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap to drive the state’s economic growth – agriculture, industrial and tourism,” he said.
For the past four years we have made great strides not only in these three key pillars but by investing in human capital through increased funding for scholarship and student aids, raising this allocation to RM127 million for 2025 to benefit more than 10,000 current and new deserving students.
“Likewise, we have built 5,000 houses under the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) initiative for low-income families in all 73 state constituencies with 3,000 new homes to be built in 2025 at the cost of RM250 million. These are among initiatives to eradicate hardcore poverty
throughout the state.
“We are confident that the State Government’s ongoing efforts to resolve legacy water and electricity issues will bear fruits when projects such as the hydroelectric Dam at Ulu Padas, Tenom, among others comes on stream. This is among the State Government’s sustainable long-term solution for a mixed renewable energy source ,” said the Chief Minister.
Hajiji said the State Government’s signing of the Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) with Petronas in 2022 through SMJ Energy has achieved remarkable growth.
With strategic investments through stakes in key oil and gas projects such as the Samarang PSC, the LNG9 Project and the SAMUR complex, this has generated revenue in excess of over RM2 billion for the state.
Hajiji hoped the new year would inspire a renewed commitment for everyone to be united and tolerant.
“The State Government remains committed to this pursuit so that political stability prevails to ensure continued economic growth and development for Sabah.”
The Chief Minister wished everyone a Happy New Year.
