The listings below are some of CM Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s achievements. Detailed information is available in the public domain:
[1] Hajiji is the first CM to systemically initiate to regain for Sabah the following rights under MA63:
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[b] Authority in fisheries in Sabah waters.
[c] Generation of power which is now under ECoS. Power shortage will be completely over latest 2030. Had Hajiji not taken back this right, Sabah’s power shortage would be unresolved forever.
[d] Other MA63 rights are under negotiation like the 40% revenue. This is tough. All Sabahans must support him.
[2] Hajiji has pioneered “CM for all Sabahans” with policy focus on “Sabah for Sabahans” or “Sabah First”. These policies have and will produce beneficial impacts for all Sabahans, especially those in B40, young Sabahans [SYBIL] and professionals [Sabah Professional Council]
[3] Hajiji has extended invitation for inputs from the private sectors in his management of Sabah’s economy like SEAC chaired by Tan Sri David Chu, Sabah Law Reform Council chaired by Tan Sri David Wong [ex-Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak], SYBIL [headed by Datuk Jame Wong], SPC [headed by Rizal].
[4] Hajiji has announced the revamp of GLCs, some of which are already beginning to give better performance. Success of this revamp of GLCs will have very far- reaching impacts for all Sabahans for generations to come.
[5] Hajiji has attracted RM58 billion investments, never been achieved before. Some have been implemented and others are being implemented or being finalized. Most of these investments are for manufacturing, transforming/enhancing Sabah’s economy from commodity to manufacturing.
[6] SMJ. 2 was launched on Friday, 2 February.
[7] Blue economy has been adopted as a national economic initiative by the Federal Government!
[8] Sabah’s financial stature has grown most impressively. State budget and reserves are at their highest in history.
[9] Reflecting his faith and confidence in young Sabahans and that Sabah’s future belongs to them, Hajiji has appointed many young, committed and qualified young Sabahans as Chairmen, CEOs and senior management positions in some GLCs.
Some examples:
(See table)
Very significantly, Hajiji has also appointed Roger Chin as Nominated DUN, the first time ever a non-politician and young Sabahan to become a law maker. I am confident that Roger will set exemplary standards and conduct for politicians and young Sabahans to emulate.
James Wong and Natasha Sim are turning around SEDCO and SMM already.
Hajiji is already preparing young Sabahans to take over the management of Sabah’s economy. This is visionary and forward looking.
It is obvious that Hajiji has shifted his direction to appoint young technocrats to revamp the GLCs. Hajiji’s revamp of GLCs is extremely important for Sabah’s economic future.
[1] No other CM has dared to venture a revamp on the GLCs, totalling more than 260.
Most of Sabah’s GLCs have been and are political quagmires, having been the domains of political warlords. Billions have been lost. Soon Hajiji’s revamp will reduce or put a stop to these Napoleons.
[2] Success of Hajiji’s GLC revamp will benefit Sabah’s economy on a scale that not many Sabahans can imagine! SMJ Energy is already making profits in the hundreds of millions!
[3] Given the poor performance and their pervasive stranglehold of the economy, if the major GLCs can perform at 75% of private sector’s capacity [not very much to ask for], Sabah’s economy can take off fast!
The sceptics will lose out. The wise ones will be winners from Hajiji’s success.
[1] Opportunity will not wait for sceptics. They rarely build anything new for themselves or for Sabah.
[2] In the context of Sabah’s current trajectory, those who stay on the sidelines waiting for "perfect" conditions might find that the best opportunities have already been claimed by others, including outsiders.
[3] They might indeed find themselves left behind the curve.
[4] The wise ones, like those Sabahans in the oil and gas industry, will benefit from the new Sabah being created by Hajiji.
Every Sabahan, especial politicians, has responsibility to contribute towards Sabah economic recovery and expansion.
[1] Sabah’s economic sickness is long and deeply entrenched for over 40 years, many present politicians, who are now critical, have been contributors towards this malaise directly or directly. They can’t claim innocence.
[2] All Sabahans, be it young Sabahans, businessmen or professionals should contribute in whatever way he/she can towards Sabah’s economic future. It is for our own good.
[3] Especially to the new YBs, please stop making feeble, meaningless, inconsequential criticisms. Make effort to appreciate the complexities of Sabah’s economic problems for the last 40 years. Only with this appreciation can you contribute constructive suggestions.
Calling all Sabahans to build the Sabah’s economy on Hajiji’s success.
Yes! We must stand united as Sabahans to defend Sabah’s rights and develop Sabah’s economy for ourselves and our children. Don’t expect outsiders to do it for us. Non-Sabahans will siphon our resources, our wealth since MA63. This must stop. Every Sabahan must stop the past leakages in timber, copper mine, oil palm, fishery, oil and gas.
[1] The first group of Sabahan that I want to call on to contribute to make Sabah great again are the elected DUNs.
[a] Those in opposition parties.
Be the Loyal Opposition. Don’t oppose for the sake of opposing. Be constructive and concentrate on major issues that can benefit Sabahans like Sabah’s rights in MA63, fighting for equitable funding from the Federal Government, food security, eradication of poverty, promotion of young Sabahans and women rights, fight inflation, expensive housing and poor/slow service from civil service.
Remember, unless you are a rookie DUN, you have contributed to Sabah’s economic problems.
Be part of the solution, don’t create more problems.
[b] Those appointed by Hajiji as chairmen and directors, CEOs of GLCs and Agencies.
Admittedly, some appointments to GLCs are less than perfect [impossible to be perfect in politics] Hajiji has made some major improvements.
With Hajiji’s revamp and introductions of macro and micro policies, system, monitoring and enforcement to be implemented, I am confident many GLCs will leap forward in improvements.
All that Sabahans want is for the chairmen and directors to put Sabah’s interest upfront, implement good governance and credibility in the management of GLCs. Not that difficult to do.
They must live up to the trust that Hajiji has given them.
[c] Senior officials in the civil service.
The senior officials hold the keys to Sabah’s future economic well-being as they have been given the trust to implement policies and decisions of the CM and Cabinet.
Past poor implementations have been disastrous. Effective implement will boost Sabah’s economy!
There are many good officers who can serve Sabah with distinction. They must be given the opportunity to prove they can do it. For Sabah’s economy to improve and grow, an effective civil service will play the most crucial role.
[d] Businessmen in Sabah must wake up to the potentials/opportunities that Hajiji has created in his last terms. More are coming.
Being businessmen, I am quite certain hey are aware that non-Sabahan senior bankers, investors, businessmen have been coming to Sabah, prowling for opportunities because of Hajiji’s economic transformation.
It would be tremendous for “Sabah for Sabahans” if Sabahan businessmen/ investors can get together and produce policy recommendations and proposals to support Hajiji’s government to expedite Sabahans’ participation and increase in economic ownership by Sabahans businessmen.
Some examples are areas that GLCs can give preference to Sabahan for JVs and create new business, in contracts and procurements. Most of these can be done by Sabahans.
It is impossible for Sabah to recover the serious loss of economic ownership if Sabah’s private sector/businessmen do not or fail to participate fully in the economy that Hajiji is building.
[e] Sabah Professional Council and Chambers of Commerce, please step up!
Take a leaf from SYBIL. Don’t wait. There are so much the chambers, if they can unite, can do. It is time for the professionals to come out from their comfort zones and play an active role in assisting Hajiji to reshape and rebuild Sabah’s economy.
It would be tremendously helpful if the professionals can inform the minsters of what is happening on the grounds that is holding back progress in the development of Sabah.
Be open and frank about the delays, blockages and small and big Napoleons.
