By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 27: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg extended his congratulations to the people of Sabah on democratically electing their new state government.
The 16th Sabah State Election yesterday saw the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) pact comprising Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), winning 38 of 73 seats, garnering a simple majority to form the new Sabah state government.
Meanwhile, Parti Warisan Sabah won 29 seats with its Warisan Plus allies Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) winning two seats and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) bagging one. Independent candidates took the remaining three seats.
“I want to congratulate the people of Sabah who have elected their government through a democratic process.
“I pray that Sabah will continue to progress under the new government,” he told reporters after the conclusion of ‘A Sunday Morning with CM: Dialogue Session with Young Entrepreneurs in Sarawak’ held at a hotel here today.
Most importantly, Abang Johari stressed, there is political stability in Sabah and the country in order for leaders to continue carrying out responsibilities entrusted on them.
“Once again, I congratulate Sabah,” he said in commending Sabahans for their dedication to democracy demonstrated in the state elections.
On whether the outcome of the Sabah election would be seen as an indication of ease in claiming rights enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as Sabah seemed to be aligned with the wishes of Sarawak as well, Abang Johari simply replied: “We will see what will happen next.”
He pointed out that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had during the recent Malaysia Day celebration highlighted a special council on MA63 will be set up in a move to expedite the restoration of eroded state rights to Sabah and Sarawak.
“The secretariat will be under (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Panglima) Maximus Ongkili.
“When the time comes, we will negotiate the outstanding issues which have not been settled,” he added.
Meanwhile, ‘A Sunday Morning with CM: Dialogue Session with Young Entrepreneurs in Sarawak’ was an event organised by DayakDaily and Kuching Freelance Journalists Association (Pewarta) to provide an avenue for professional and young Sarawakian entrepreneurs from various sectors to engage with the Chief Minister and raise issues that mattered in order to steer Sarawak to greater heights.
The dialogue session was moderated by DayakDaily’s senior writer Peter Sibon and entrepreneur Nigel Wee. DayakDaily editor-in-chief Lian Cheng was among those present. — DayakDaily
