Rival groups again hold rallies

Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025
Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025
By: Crystal E Hermenegildus, Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Demonstrators rally outside Center Point shopping mall. Kota Kinabalu: The Gerakan Anak Muda dan Mahasiswa Anak Sabah (Gammas) reaffirmed its strong support for the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, citing numerous contributions to the state's development and the welfare of youth and students. Organizer Noridi @ Noraidi Maya said Gammas members, particularly students, have directly benefited from initiatives introduced under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Pakatan Harapan (GRS-PH) government. 'We support Hajiji's leadership because he has brought significant change and progress to Sabah. "Students have received various forms of assistance such as the Sentosa aid (RM300), Budi aid (RM1,500–RM2,000), Subfly travel ticket subsidies, scholarships, and laptop assistance,' Noridi said during a peaceful rally at Taman Chong Thien Vun, Saturday. He also thanked Hajiji for thwarting an alleged cartel that attempted to monopolise Sabah's mineral resources. Gammas urged all parties to stop politicising the ongoing case involving mineral licences in Sabah, particularly those linked to the cartel. The group said investigations should be left to the proper authorities such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.
Advertisement Noridi also called on the Federal Government to expedite the implementation of a Political Funding Act to prevent future cases of corruption linked to political donations or campaign financing. 'We don't want good politicians to be dragged into corruption cases simply because they're trying to raise funds to help their constituents. "Many rural communities turn to their elected representatives for help during emergencies like death, fires, and floods. The absence of clear laws on political donations opens the door to abuse,' he said. Commenting on longstanding issues such as water, electricity, and roads in Sabah, Noridi said these are legacy problems that should not be overly politicised. 'We urge the public to support the government's development plans rather than use these issues to sow division,' said Noridi. Meanwhile, hundreds of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) students, together with youth groups and civil society organisations, marched through the streets of the city centre, Saturday, in a demonstration known as Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0. President of Suara Mahasiswa Sabah Fadhil Kasim said the protest called for government accountability, stronger anti-corruption reforms and urgent resolution to long-standing infrastructure issues affecting the campus. The march began at Suria Sabah and moved through Pasar Besar Kota Kinabalu, Anjung Kinabalu, Centre Point, and BKK, before concluding at Lintasan Deasoka on Gaya Street. Despite persistent rain, the crowd remained spirited, chanting and holding up handmade banners throughout the two-hour procession. He condemned the ongoing water supply crisis at UMS. 'We have endured long enough without water. This problem has gone on for years,' he said. Fadhil criticised the explanation by the Sabah State Water Department, which attributed the issue to a misunderstanding. 'They say it's a misunderstanding, but is it a misunderstanding when students can't shower for days and have to collect rainwater? Is that acceptable? No!' he said. The student body again demanded that UMS initiate legal action against the Sabah State Water Department, dismissing the university's claim that it could not sue due to 'government-to-government' protocol. He also called for reform of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), urging for it to become an independent body with bipartisan parliamentary oversight. 'We want the MACC to be a truly independent agency, as promised in election manifestos. But today, that promise has not been fulfilled.' He said while the rally remained peaceful, tensions briefly rose when several unknown individuals appeared with banners claiming they had been paid to participate. The protesters firmly denied the accusation. 'For the first time, we received a written response from the District Police Chief allowing this gathering,' he said, who praised the cooperation shown by police enforcement. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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