Haji Hajiji Haji Noor
KOTA KINABALU: Former Petagas Assemblyman Datuk James Ligunjang has congratulated the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led (GRS) State Government for being honoured as Malaysia’s Most Outstanding State for 2024 at the prestigious IBR ASEAN Awards 2025.
Organised by the International Business Review (IBR), the awards aim to recognise exemplary leadership, economic performance, and sustainable governance across the ASEAN region.
“Congratulations to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor and his Cabinet for their exemplary leadership and dedication to Sabah’s progress,” James said in a statement.
“Rumah kita, kita jaga,” he added, affirming the importance of local stewardship in Sabah’s development.
The award, announced by the IBR ASEAN Awards Secretariat, places Sabah alongside Negeri Sembilan, which was named Malaysia’s Most Progressive State for 2024.
This marks the first time the awards have extended recognition to state governments, highlighting their strategic role in national progress.
The selection was made by a Panel of Professional Judges comprising prominent figures from various sectors and supported by data and analysis from expert advisors.
Under Hajiji’s stewardship, Sabah received acclaim for its successful implementation of the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development framework.
The framework focuses on four key pillars: safeguarding Sabah’s rights, promoting integrity and efficient governance, ensuring development aligned with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, and maintaining unity among the state’s multicultural population.
Among Sabah’s major accomplishments highlighted in the award citation are:
A significant increase in the state’s Federal special grants from RM26 million in 2022 to RM600 million in 2025;
Securing over RM3 billion in revenue in 2023 through the Commercial Cooperation Agreement (CCA) with PETRONAS;
A tenfold surge in foreign investments from RM132 million in 2023 to over RM1 billion in 2024;
A 47% rise in foreign tourist arrivals, reinforcing Sabah’s status as a prime ecotourism destination;
Steady progress on the Pan-Borneo Highway, strengthening connectivity across major cities and rural areas.
Chief Judge of the IBR ASEAN Awards, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang, said Sabah demonstrated strong potential in both economic development and environmental conservation.
He cited the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) as a standout example, with its 90% occupancy rate and 288 active investors, as well as Sabah recording the highest manufacturing sector growth rate in the country at 4.4% in 2023.
Azman also commended Sabah’s commitment to sustainable development, noting that 62% of its land—amounting to 4.6 million hectares—has been designated as logging-free, reinforcing its environmental stewardship goals.
The official award ceremony is scheduled to take place on July 19, 2025, at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) in Kota Kinabalu. Chief Minister Hajiji is expected to attend as an honorary guest at the event, which carries the theme “REIMAGINING ASEAN” in conjunction with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.
The recognition marks another milestone for Sabah under the GRS-led administration, reinforcing the state’s growing role in national and regional development.
