By: Datuk Teddy Chin
A LOT of water has flowed under the bridge since I last wrote in this column.
For starters, we now have a new Governor (commonly known as Tuan Yang Terutama or TYT) in the person of His Excellency Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hj Aman.
He has been in office since 1.1.2025 and I would say his performance is so far so good. I can’t think of a better person.
After being a Chief Minister for more than a decade, Musa certainly understands the job of a TYT. The same can be said of his consort, the Toh Puan.
Tun Musa is not the first CM-turned-TYT in Sabah. The last was late Tun Sakaran Dandai, who became TYT only less than a year after becoming CM. The late Tun Said Keruak also became TYT after having been a CM.
The first Sabah CM, the late Tun Fuad Stephens, also became TYT in 1973. Then he became CM again in 1976, albeit for less than two months.
The late Tun Mustapha Datu Harun had it the other way round. The first Sabah TYT of 1963 became CM in 1967 till 1975. He became CM again after the 1985 election, albeit only for 24 hours.
The other important thing that happened since I last wrote was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to Sabah recently for a fast-breaking ceremony in Tuaran with local leaders. It was his first visit to the State since 2025.
What did Anwar say in front of thousands of people in Tuaran last Saturday? The headline in last Sunday’s Daily Express front page says it all: “Sabah stable due to Hajiji: PM”.
The heading is self-explanatory. But for those who missed the story, Anwar among other things commended Hajiji for maintaining stability in the State, thus allowing the government to focus on key development issues.
“Political stability is crucial for Malaysia’s progress,” Anwar said at the Madani Iftar event in Tuaran.
The PM went on to say that “Stability helps us focus. When politics is stable, we can prioritise development programmes and address the people’s concern”.
“Earlier I met with Hajiji and our discussions were not about personal interests or political favours.
“Instead, we discussed on real issues – poverty, public housing, pothole-ridden roads and water supply. These are our priorities,” he said.
Anwar also called for an end to divisive politics, urging leaders to work together for the greater good.
“If leaders at the top are serious and united in driving development, then there is no need for constant political bickering.
“We must move beyond racial, cultural, and religious disputes and work as one,” Anwar concluded.
It is not every day that the PM openly praises a CM or Menteri Besar and this is not the first time that Anwar endorsed Hajiji.
Two years ago in early 2023, when Hajiji faced the toughest test of his political career, the PM came to his rescue.
Anwar urged Hajiji’s detractors to leave the latter alone and let him continue to rule the State. “If you want to fight, wait for the election,” Anwar told them in no uncertain terms. Time flies and the much-awaited State election can be anytime now until year end.
The PM also attributed Hajiji’s success in surviving the coup then to his “Silat Moves”. After Anwar’s statement, Hajiji’s detractors stopped bothering him, at least for a while.
Hajiji did not learn his “Silat Moves” overnight. For starters, he had been Sulaman Assemblyman non-stop since 1990. In other words, his political career spanned over few decades or more than 30 years.
As a matter of fact, he was an Assemblyman even longer than his one-time political master, Tun Musa, who became an Assemblyman in 1994 after losing in 1990.
After being an Opposition Assemblyman for a few years from 1990 to 1994, Hajiji became an Assistant Minister when the Umno-led BN government took over from PBS.
Hajiji was an Assistant Minister for 10 years, serving in various Ministries. His most useful experience was perhaps his appointment as Assistant Finance Minister.
This is because two decades later he would become the Finance Minister cum CM. Then in 2004, Tun Musa promoted him to full Minister when he became CM.
Hajiji was made Minister for Local Government and Housing and remained in that Ministry until 2018.
As fate would have it, in 2020 he became CM, a post once held by Tun Musa for 15 years.
So all in all, Hajiji has been an Assemblyman for more than 30 years, an Assistant Minister for 10 years, a full Minister for another 10 years, and CM since 2020. So don’t underestimate him. Someone tried to in early 2023 and failed miserably.
Among Hajiji’s achievements for the past few years include the Sabah Maju Jaya initiatives which include building free houses for the poor all over the State.
Economic development under SMJ also spoke for itself, with foreign investments increasing by the month. Some opposition people criticised the SMJ, even poking fun. Some were even jealous that Anwar praised Hajiji.
Well, that’s what the opposition do. If not, they won’t be called the opposition. Some may even criticize what I write. As I said, hat is not my problem.
Sabah Maju Jaya. – DE
