Umno Youth leader tells Hajiji to quit, moots Jeffrey Kitingan as interim CM

Amid the ongoing corruption scandal in Sabah, Umno Youth treasurer Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar has urged Chief Minister Hajiji Noor to resign from his position.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Naim (above) suggested that Deputy Chief Minister Jeffrey Kitingan be appointed interim chief minister to lead the state.

“Hajiji should step down with dignity following a crisis of integrity, reputation, and credibility arising from whistleblower revelations about the Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) corruption scandal involving him, several state ministers, and GLC chairpersons in Sabah. 

“He must show leadership with integrity and magnanimity by resigning to pave the way for Jeffrey, who possesses credibility, integrity, and a positive reputation, to lead the administration as the Sabah chief minister,” he posted today. 

The corruption scandal began last month, with former SMM CEO Jontih Enggihon accusing Hajiji of abusing his power as SMM chairperson.

‘Trust deficit’

In a video recorded on Oct 1, Jontih claimed that Hajiji interfered with the selection process for prospecting licences to favour a specific contractor.

The video was one of several released by a whistleblower, implicating Sabah lawmakers in a series of corruption allegations.

Further commenting, Naim, who is also Kinabatangan Umno Youth chief, noted that the scandal has severely damaged Sabah’s reputation and resulted in a “deficit of trust” among foreign investors, the public, and other stakeholders.

“As a leader, Hajiji should prioritise the state and the people’s economy over retaining personal political power and interests, which risk undermining economic potential as Sabah faces the economic challenges of 2025,” he explained.

He also emphasised that Hajiji must grasp the importance of the “principle of trust”, which relies on key elements such as integrity, reputation, and credibility, to regain foreign investor confidence.

Highlighting Jeffrey’s qualifications, Naim pointed out that the Keningau MP is an experienced political leader who has been instrumental in forming the Sabah government.

“Jeffrey deserves the chance to resolve the crisis of integrity, reputation, and credibility damaging Sabah’s image,” he said.

Lastly, Naim expressed confidence that Hajiji understands the fundamentals of economic risk management and will, therefore, step aside in the people’s interest.

“Do not sacrifice the people’s economy for personal power and political interests. Give Jeffrey the opportunity to lead Sabah’s administration and restore trust amidst the ongoing crisis,” he said.

Turning up the heat

Yesterday, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth chief Christopher Mandut called on Sabah Umno to reassess its stance following calls from the state party’s Wanita and Puteri wings for Hajiji to step down.

Sabah Umno Youth chief Sufian Abd Karim also demanded a thorough investigation into the scandal.

In response, Sabah Umno chairperson Bung Moktar Radin fired back with a sharp rebuke, telling Christopher to “belajar dulu” (learn first) and to avoid engaging in politics if he is “brainless.”

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