Gagasan Rakyat strengthens GRS's position- Hajiji
Hajiji launching Gagasan Rakyat in SICC, Kota Kinabalu.
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Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Gagasan Rakyat will be a vessel for Sabah in carrying the image of multi-racial unity and supporting the 'Sayangi Sabah' agenda, which is GRS's trusts of 'Sabah First, Sabah Forward, Sabah Prosper and Sabah United.
"We will be respected if we are strong and united.
"This agreement is important to build the unity and strength of the people to ensure Sabah's interests continue to be preserved in the Malaysian Federation," Hajiji told reporters after launching Gagasan Rakyat here.
The Gagasan Rakyat president said based on the change in sentiments at grass-roots levels, the people of Sabah want a local party to lead the state government.
"It is true; we should not reject cooperation with national parties as we need to take part in the federal ecosystem.
"However, in terms of the state's 'governance' framework, the people want a government that is locally led, while at the same time the presence of national parties remains relevant as long as the spirit, core, and agenda of the state's struggle are never compromised.
Sabahans wanted the state to be covered by a multi-party government system, not a single party, and a government with strong and inclusive checks and balances, Hajiji added.
"If you look at history, the first three Sabah governments were local parties, but they were 'single parties' in nature.
"We learn from experience, and we must implement changes that are inclusive and constructive.
"We must avoid centralised power that is strong and that gravitates in one direction, whether it is biased towards the group it represents or tied to a specific leadership," he said.
Hajiji said GRS will always be open to cooperating with any party that upholds and acknowledges Sabah's rights and importance, including respecting the freedom and validity of Sabah's leadership and its people in deciding the government's administration.
"We appreciate the culture and political commitment of national parties in respecting the decision of local leaders in deciding the state administration's direction after the recent events.
"This approach protects the state lever leadership's credibility and legitimacy as chosen by the grassroots in Sabah," he said.
