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Covid-19 spreading in Sabah, floods and landslides in the Land Under the Wind, slower economic growth in the state and Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin in the Sabah cabinet.
Those are some of the challenges for Sabah’s newly appointed Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. (Photo) faces.
The 65-year-old politician took office on September 29, three days after Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) defeated Warisan Plus in state polls.
Minutes after becoming Chief Minister, Hajiji had his first teacup storm when Lamag Assemblyman Bung Moktar was not happy that he got the position of Minister of Housing and Local Government of the state and not what he coveted: position of Minister of Public Works of the state.
The prime minister spread the Bung Moktar storm with soft and deft political touches. There were bigger issues to focus on: Covid-19, floods, and the economy.
The soft-spoken Hajiji has the qualifications to deal with these problems. He is an experienced politician and a seasoned administrator.
He has been an assemblyman for 30 years in Sulaman, a state seat in the Tuaran parliamentary constituency. He was Minister of Housing and Local Government of the state from 2004 to 2018 during the government of Barisan Nasional.
He has a realistic political style for dealing with politicians who are like a bull in a china shop;
he is Mr. Good Boy.
“He is a nice and approachable person,” said an opposition politician. Hopefully, he will work closely with Putrajaya and gain the necessary support to solve the perennial problems facing Sabah and, of course, bring development to the state as promised. “
The opposition politician said that one of Hajiji’s biggest challenges was creating an environment for vibrant economic activities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Positive cases are increasing in the state, which held snap elections during the pandemic.
Dr. Zaini Othman, Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, argued that Hajiji had to adopt the image of a leader who represents and protects the interests of Sabahans.
“This is crucial and of the utmost importance to him. What else to protect and represent the interests of Sabahans (regardless of their ethnic, cultural, religious or sub-regional origin) were the main promises of GRS during his campaign,” he said.
“Above all, your leadership must act on many policies and actions that most Sabahans feel the post-Warisan Plus government is much better and much more efficient.”
Zaini pointed out that Hajiji’s most important political challenge was managing the GRS government. He noted that the prime minister had to make his alliance partners “happy.”
There is also no honeymoon for the prime minister.
Hajiji faces relentless and aggressive opposition who is quick to pounce on any perceived mistakes his government makes.
The attacks are compounded by an opposition-minded urban electorate that overwhelmingly voted for Warisan Plus.
Media shy, Hajiji must tackle public relations challenges bluntly and immediately. If not the opposition, and not him, will define his main ministry.
To win the hearts and minds of Sabahans, the good boy must improve their lives.
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