Hajiji accompanying Sabah Head of State Tun (Dr.) Musa Haji Aman in presenting the Sabah State-level Tokoh Maulidur Rasul SAW Award in the men’s category to Datuk Alidin @ Ahmad Din OKK Othman at the Sabah State-level Maulidur Rasul SAW Celebration 1448H/2026M.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s true progress cannot be measured solely by physical development, economic growth or technological advancement, but must also be accompanied by the development of people who possess knowledge, integrity, good character and a sense of responsibility towards society.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said lessons from the sirah of Prophet Muhammad SAW showed that the development of a society must be pursued comprehensively by strengthening brotherhood, safeguarding the welfare of the community and upholding justice as the foundation of shared life.
He said the concept of rahmatan lil ‘alamin brought by Prophet Muhammad SAW carries a very broad meaning, encompassing compassion, justice, wisdom, tolerance, trustworthiness and respect for human dignity.
“He demonstrated that the strength of leadership does not lie solely in power, but in the ability to build trust, uphold justice and bring benefits to society,” he said in his speech at the Sabah State-level Maulidur Rasul SAW Celebration 1448H/2026M at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.
Hajiji accompanying Sabah Head of State Tun (Dr.) Musa Haji Aman in presenting the Sabah State-level Tokoh Maulidur Rasul SAW Award in the women’s category to Datuk Hajah Patimah Ramuji at the Sabah State-level Maulidur Rasul SAW Celebration 1448H/2026M.
Hajiji said that, in the context of Sabah, the State Government remained committed to ensuring that development carried out benefited the people as widely as possible and was inclusive, taking into account the interests of communities in both urban and rural areas.
“We want to build a state that is not only advanced economically and in terms of development, but also has a society with strong moral values, high integrity and close bonds among its members,” he said.
In this regard, he said the values demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad SAW, such as trustworthiness, justice, diligence, compassion and concern for others, must continue to serve as inspiration in carrying out every entrusted responsibility.
“For civil servants, trust must be translated through the delivery of efficient, transparent and integrity-driven services. For leaders, trust means placing the interests of the people as a priority, while for society, it is translated through a sense of responsibility, respect for the law and working together to preserve the peace and harmony of the state,” he said.
Hajiji said Sabah, with its multi-racial, multi-religious and multicultural society, must continue to preserve its diversity as a strength that forms the foundation of unity and harmony in the state.
“I urge all the people to continue preserving the spirit of unity and harmony that has long been a strength of Sabah. Differences in views, beliefs or backgrounds should not cause our relationships to become strained.
“Instead, we should seek common ground, cultivate mature dialogue and resolve differences with wisdom,” he said.
He said peace and stability were prerequisites for development, as without unity, all planned development agendas would be more difficult to realise.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister stressed that the role of the younger generation must not be overlooked in determining the future of the state, particularly as they face technological developments, artificial intelligence, an explosion of information and rapid social changes.
He said young people must be equipped not only with education and skills, but also with a strong sense of identity and good character, while making use of social media and digital technology to gain knowledge, develop skills, enhance productivity and share content that benefits others.
“We must avoid the culture of spreading unverified information, slander, insults and content that can undermine moral values and relationships within society,” he said.
Hajiji said the character of Prophet Muhammad SAW, particularly in choosing his words, respecting others and conveying the truth with wisdom, should serve as a guide in human interaction, including in the digital world.
“We want to produce a generation of Sabah youths who are knowledgeable, skilled and competitive, while remaining firm in their identity, high in moral character and conscious of their responsibilities towards religion, society, the state and the country,” he said.
In conjunction with the celebration, he urged Muslims in Sabah to strengthen their love for Prophet Muhammad SAW by translating it into practice, including nurturing love within the family, carrying out responsibilities with sincerity and honesty, helping those in need and maintaining good relations among people.
Hajiji said if the noble values demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad SAW were applied in the lives of individuals and families, within society, as well as in the administration and implementation of development, Sabah could be built into a more advanced, peaceful, prosperous and blessed state.
