TENOM: Nearly 40,000 acres of state land have been alienated from the Sabah Forest Industries concession area and gazetted as village reserves to benefit local communities, said caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the move reflected the GRS Government’s commitment to prioritising people’s welfare under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap, which emphasises prosperity and inclusivity.
Hajiji added that government-linked company lands were also redistributed to ensure rural residents could live more comfortably, while welfare aid recipients had increased from 30,000 to 70,000 under the current administration.
He noted that the State had gained stronger participation in the oil and gas sector through its collaboration with Petronas, with over 80 local vendors now active compared to just 10 in 2022.
Hajiji, who launched the Kemabong GRS election machinery, confirmed Datuk Rubin Balang as the GRS candidate for the seat, expressing confidence he would retain it in the 17th Sabah Legislative Assembly General Election on Nov 29.
