Strong Federal-State ties key to advancing Sabah's development agenda, says Hajiji
Hajiji (second left) witnessing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hitting the gong, symbolising the launch of the Kaamatan Festival.
PENAMPANG (May 30): Sabah's development agenda will advance more effectively with strong support and close cooperation between the Federal and state governments, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He expressed confidence that a solid relationship between the two parties would be a catalyst for the successful implementation of the state's development policies.
'This cooperation is vital to ensure the people of Sabah benefit directly,' he said at the 2025 Kaamatan Festival celebration held at the Hongkod Koisaan Hall, Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), here on Friday.
The event was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and attended by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and KDCA president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
Hajiji also expressed his appreciation to Anwar for officiating the event, describing his presence as a clear sign of the Federal government's commitment to Sabah.
He noted that this year's Kaamatan Festival, themed 'Kaamatan Untuk Semua, Kaamatan For All, Kaamatan Montok Toinsanan', marks the 65th official celebration since its formal introduction in 1960.
'Kaamatan is not merely a cultural celebration, but a symbol of unity and harmony among the people of Sabah, values that must be preserved. It does not belong to any one ethnic group, but to all Sabahans. It reflects the spirit of goodwill and cohesion that underpins the state's stability,' he said.
Hajiji further affirmed the state government's continued commitment to strengthening rural socio-economic development through a range of strategic approaches, such as agricultural modernisation, support for small and medium enterprises, and the promotion of community-based tourism.
'These efforts form a critical pillar of our mission to enhance the well-being of the people holistically and inclusively, in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan,' he added.
He emphasised the importance of expanding economic opportunities for rural communities, through modern agriculture, community-based tourism and skills training to help increase household income and reduce the poverty rate.
He highlighted that the reactivation of the Sabah Padi and Rice Board is aimed at enhancing food security through increased local rice self-sufficiency.
'Our target is to achieve 30 percent rice self-sufficiency by next year and 60 percent by 2030. This is a vital step towards reducing import dependency and strengthening local food supply resilience,' he said. —Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysiakini
2 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
PM discusses free trade pact, expanding cooperation with S Korea
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have agreed to join hands in expanding bilateral cooperation in a "mutually beneficial and substantive" manner. This includes efforts to conclude a free trade pact, the presidential office said today. According to Yonhap, both leaders reached...
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Lee, Anwar Discuss FTA, Expanding South Korea-Malaysia Cooperation
SEOUL, June 23 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim agreed Monday to work together to expand bilateral cooperation in a "mutually beneficial and substantive" manner, including efforts to conclude a free trade pact, the presidential office said. According to Yonhap news agency both leaders reached the understanding during their first phone talks earlier in the day, expressing hopes to further advance the strategic partnership between South Korea and the Southeast Asian nation, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters. "The two leaders agreed to work together to further expand mutually beneficial and substantive cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, infrastructure, digital transformation, green growth and defence, especially with the expected conclusion of the South Korea-Malaysia free trade agreement this year," Kang said.
Focus Malaysia
3 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Malaysia's moral dilemma in Mid-East crisis: Condemn Israel but softly ticks off US for bombing Iran
HAVING long positioned itself as a champion of the Palestinian struggle for dignity and statehood, Malaysia cannot afford to adopt a wishy-washy stance on the on-going war between Israel and Iran. To make matters worse, the US under the leadership of President Donald Trump has entered the fray by throwing its weight behind Israel and intensifying the conflict. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – once regarded as one of the most vocal supporters of the Palestinian cause – now appears to be retreating into ambiguity. His recent calls for a cessation of hostilities fall short of the bold advocacy he was once known for. The bravado he exhibited in the past seems to have vanished into thin air. While Anwar has condemned Israel, he has notably refrained from censuring the US for its role in fuelling the war. Is he afraid of confronting the so-called global superpower? He is only able to offer a mild criticism on the world's biggest economy by describing Washington's interference in the Iran-Israel conflict as potentially worsening the situation and undermine regional stability as well as the global economy. Selective condemnation 'Now, with the involvement of external powers, including the US, the situation will only become more volatile. If the Straits of Hormuz is blocked, it will pose a major problem to the global economy,' he told reporters after a session with the Sarawak PKR Leadership Council yesterday (June 22). But this is a slap on the wrist at best. What Malaysia needs now is decisive leadership. Anwar should urgently convene a special session of Parliament to allow MPs to debate the conflict a conflict with potentially severe regional and global consequences. Will Anwar dare to hold Israel and the US accountable for their diabolical roles in this escalating war? And will he also have the political courage to condemn Iran for its on-going involvement in proxy wars across the Middle East? It is one thing to denounce Israel – a country with which Malaysia has no diplomatic relations – but quite another to challenge the US, especially under an erratic administration. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause (Image credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook ) Anwar knows well that it is the US that sustains Israel's military dominance. Yet he appears unwilling to speak the truth. Malaysia's support for the Palestinians risks becoming mere political rhetoric – empty gestures which lack substance and resolve. Flying in a few injured Palestinians for treatment – while compassionate – is not enough to sustain the momentum of their decades-long fight for freedom and sovereignty. Wake up, Malaysia. Your voice matters – now more than ever. – June 23, 2025 Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image credit: Al-Jazeera English/YouTube
