Hajiji (centre) receiving application forms to join Gagasan Rakyat from Sukau division chief Datuk Juhari Janan.
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has hit out at those belittling the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-led government's "Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya" (SMJ) development plan.
The Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairman said the actions of these parties, especially the Opposition, were not only inappropriate, but also disrespectful towards "Sabah Maju Jaya", which is the official motto seen on Sabah's coat of arms.
Hajiji, who is also Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah president, said this motto has existed for a long time and GRS incorporated it into its development plan tagline as a way to further ennoble and empower the motto.
"We chose the name SMJ because it has been on the Sabah coat of arms since the start of our (state's) independence," he said during a Gagasan Rakyat event in the Kinabatangan district on Saturday (July 8).
"I used (SMJ) to dignify the words and empower them again (but) even this has been mocked," he said.
According to Hajiji, detractors are envious of the GRS government.
"They will always have negative thoughts, saying that SMJ (only gives) potholed roads (or) no water supply.
"But to us, the SMJ motto must be lifted... I am using it to build Sabah," he added.
Perennial issues such as water and electricity supply as well as road conditions in Sabah has triggered a rise in criticism, particularly over social media, against the GRS government and its SMJ tagline since last year.
Hajiji also said the Federal Government has recognised the SMJ tagline and that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) had also agreed to allowed it for special registration plate numbers for state government vehicles.
Hajiji added, that many initiatives under SMJ have been successfully implemented, including financial assistance for Sabahan children to pursue their tertiary studies.
He said the GRS government had achieved a host of successes in economic aspects in the last two years since taking over the state administration.
This included an agreement with PETRONAS, where Sabah will receive a share of interest in several of the national oil and gas company's projects in the state, he said.
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