Kota Kinabalu: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor displayed wisdom in his willingness to give way to Barisan Nasional (BN) to contest the coming Lamag and Kinabatangan by-elections, said GRS senior leader Datuk John Ambrose.
He said the Chief Minister’s stance reflected political maturity and a strong commitment to maintaining unity and stability in the new Sabah government.
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“This is a wise decision by Hajiji. It shows respect for past electoral outcomes and prioritises unity and camaraderie among parties that form the state government.”
John who is a GRS Supreme Council member, said Hajiji’s leadership approach was for long-term political stability rather than short-term political gain.
“He (Hajiji) is the kind of leader that Sabah needs, someone who can see into the future and make wise decisions accordingly.
“He knows that when Sabah is politically stable, everything else will fall into place. Economically, it allows room for Sabah to prosper. Investors will have confidence.
“By choosing to support BN, GRS is sending a clear message that unity and collaboration are more important than contesting every seat. It also means that GRS values strengthening state and federal ties,” he added.
On Tuesday, Hajiji, who is also Chief Minister, said the coalition was likely to sit out both by-elections out of respect for BN, which had won both seats previously through late Datuk Bung Moktar Radin.
He said the matter would be discussed within GRS but stressed that, in principle, the coalition was prepared to make way and assist the BN in ensuring victory in both seats.
The Election Commission has fixed polling on Jan 24, 2026, with nomination day on Jan 10 and early voting on Jan 20.
Commenting on the Sabah Budget 2026, John said it reflected a people-centric fiscal approach that prioritises welfare, economic resilience and sustainable development.
He cited the decision to increase the quota of Rumah Mesra SMJ to 50 units per constituency, with specific allocations for individuals below the age of 40 and newly married young couples, describing it as a timely intervention to ease housing pressures faced by young families.
The Budget 2026 reflected a shift away from short-term assistance towards empowering citizens to build sustainable livelihoods, citing allocations of RM15 million for the SME-UP Assistance Programme and RM5 million for the State Entrepreneurship Programme.
“These initiatives are not merely financial aid, but investments in self-reliance, particularly for youths and single mothers, enabling them to venture into entrepreneurship and improve their socio-economic standing.
“From all this, Sabahans can see how Hajiji understands the human side of things.
“He is a Sabah leader. But he is human first and feels for every Sabahan.”
