Hajiji says 'very tired of politics', next Sabah polls to be last

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has announced that the upcoming 17th Sabah state election will be his final outing in politics.

According to The Borneo Post, the 70-year-old made the declaration during the launch of the SK Bundung Hall in Tuaran yesterday, capping a political career that has spanned over three decades.

“Otherwise, I am actually very tired of politics. I am old already, although my heart is still ‘young’. For half of my life, I have been an elected representative for 35 years. I am now 70 years old,” said the eight-term assemblyperson.

Hajiji, who leads Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and heads Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan), said he had already informed his Sulaman constituents of his decision.

The Tuaran-born politician first served as a public servant before entering politics in 1990 under the now-defunct United Sabah National Organisation (Usno). After Usno’s dissolution, he joined Umno in 1994.

Following BN’s fall from power in 2020, Hajiji led a group of former Sabah Umno leaders into Bersatu.

Two years later, after the 15th general election, he spearheaded another exodus - this time from Bersatu - to form Gagasan.

Passing the baton

According to The Borneo Post, his retirement announcement comes as GRS considers including a two-term limit for the chief minister’s post in its election manifesto.

Hajiji, who is implicated in the Sabah mining license corruption scandal - along with over a dozen GRS lawmakers - said the time had come to pass the baton to younger leaders.

The state election, which must be held by Dec 7 this year, is expected to see shifting alliances and multi-cornered contests, with GRS expected to clash with BN despite a “love triangle” alliance brokered by Pakatan Harapan.

Sabah Umno information chief Suhaimi Nasir previously described GRS as a “liability” ahead of campaigning, a sentiment also admitted by Sabah PKR chief Mustafar Sakmud.

State education, development

The Borneo Post also reported that Hajiji highlighted the state government’s focus on education and human capital development under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development blueprint.

“Never before have we implemented such a wide range of initiatives for the development of human capital and education in Sabah,” he said, pointing to RM1.33 billion channelled into the sector over the past five years.

He reportedly noted that state scholarships had risen from RM50 million to RM138 million this year, and promised to raise the amount further next year.

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