Tuaran: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the support of the people in Sulaman that he represents has been tremendous and has enabled him to serve the constituency consecutively for a record eight terms.
He denied the opposition’s allegations that no development has been brought to Sulaman.
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The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman said the people of Sulaman are aware and is confident they would again give him victory in the 17th State Election on Nov. 29.
“Actually, we truly love Sulaman. I saw the magazine ‘Sulaman Yang Ku Sayang’, and indeed, I genuinely love Sulaman.
“All this while, we are not being boastful, but the support from the people of Sulaman for me has been tremendous.
“Throughout my time as an elected representative, I have focused on what we can do for Sulaman.
“It is only the opposition that fails to see what we have done. Major housing developments in Sulaman and in the town of Tuaran are sufficient for our people and basic amenities such as road access to villages are almost 100 per cent complete.
“Previously, Pantai Dalit was also part of my area, and one project I will never forget is in Mengkabong, where the people have supported me from long ago.
“What we did there was replace water village houses with homes on land. Now, they live comfortably on solid ground,” he said.
Hajiji said the construction of an organised village settlement in Mengkabong was among his major achievements in helping the people, along with another in Kg Penimbawan.
He said fishermen in both villages previously lived in water villages but have since been relocated to free homes for each family.
“We did this because we wanted to help the fishermen who lived on the water, to give them proper housing, as these were poor and struggling communities. Now we also have the Rumah Mesra SMJ programme; although not everyone has received one yet, it is a good initiative.
“For the youth, we built the Tuaran Sports Complex, supported youth associations every year and provided allocations. So who says we don’t care about the young people in Sulaman? We have given all sorts of assistance, including support for small businesses.
“Right now, an astaka is being built at the sports complex at a cost of RM15 million. We allocated 100 acres for the sports complex so many things can be developed there, and there is even a proposal to build a drag racing track,” he said.
He said these efforts are aimed at transforming Tuaran into a better and more developed area where the people’s basic needs can be fulfilled.
This includes improving road user comfort, particularly the stretch between the Berungis Roundabout and Batangan, which is currently being upgraded into a dual carriageway with four lanes.
In addition, the Pan Borneo Highway project from Serusup, Tuaran to Binturu, Kota Belud is also under construction and expected to be completed in two years.
“When it is completed, people in Penimbawan and Kg Baru-Baru will no longer need to detour through Ambong, Kota Belud. Just wait two more years, the Pan Borneo route from Serusup to Binturu will be there. This are our efforts.”
Hajiji is confident that the majority of the 1,918 registered voters in PDM Indai would choose him on Nov 29 and return him to the Sulaman seat.
He would continue to provide the best service to the people of Sulaman and Tuaran as a whole.
Earlier, Hajiji spent time visiting several PDM operation centres within the constituency to meet voters and party machinery.
