By Datuk Teddy Chin
APRIL 10, 2025 was a special date in the history of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly.
Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Hj Aman who declared the Session open is the new Governor or TYT.
What makes it special is the fact that he was the Chief Minister before.
Still, he was not the only Chief Minister-turned TYT. But he was the longest-serving Chief Minister in Sabah’s history – 15 years until the 2018 election.
In fact, after that election he was already sworn-in as the Chief Minister.
What happened after that is perhaps still fresh in Sabahans’ minds and I think there is no need to dwell into that.
Let by-gones be by-gones.
What matters is that Musa is now back in circulation after a few years;
this time in an even higher position protocol-wise, as the Governor.
The moral of the story here is that, as Kak Wan (Anwar’s wife) once put it, “Manusia merancang, Tuhan turut merancang” (Man plans, God also plans).
I mean, a few years ago when Musa was out in the wilderness and his “friends” started deserting him one by one, who would have thought that he would be back that soon and in an even more honorable position as TYT.
Some of these “friends” were among the first to congratulate him on 1.1.2025.
As for Musa not the only Chief Minister-turned TYT, the late Tun Sakaran Dandai also became TYT after he was CM but only for 9 months in 1995.
The late Tun Said Keruak also became TYT in the late 70s but he was CM only for half-a-year 1975-76.
The late Tun Fuad also became TYT in 1973 but he was CM for only slightly more than a year in 1963-64.
The late Tun Mustapha was TYT first (1963-65) before becoming CM (1967-1975).
Musa was the longest-serving CM – 15 years starting 2003.
Which means that for 15 years he as CM handed over the State Government’s policy speech to the Governor at the start of each Assembly Session at the beginning of the year.
In other words, Musa is well-versed with the role of a TYT.
He knows what to expect and he is more than capable of delivering a good Policy Speech.
Although the Speech is prepared by the State Government, the Governor is at liberty to alter the speech.
Just like the Agong is at liberty to alter the speech presented to him by the Prime Minister.
In fact, if I remember correctly last year the King didn’t even read parts of the speech, saying that it was too long.
Just like the TYT has the last say on the annual State Honours Awards List and the Agong the Federal Awards List.
On April 10, 2025, presenting the State Policy Speech to Musa was Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Hj Noor who was a Minister under Musa for 10 years.
Musa promoted Hajiji to full Minister when Musa became CM. Before that Hajiji was an Assistant Minister for another 10 years.
Now that Musa is TYT and Hajiji is CM, I expect the two to work well together.
They understand each other. As a team, they remind me of the “deadly’ combination of Datuk James Wong and Datuk Hassan Sani in the hey days of Sabah football in the 70s and 80s.
It augurs well for Sabah especially in terms of the Sabah Maju Jaya initiatives. I can’t think of a better TYT-CM team.
There is no need for me to dwell at length into the Policy Speech as that was given maximum coverage by Sabah’s most authoritative and respected Daily Express.
I will touch only on the main points of the speech.
I see a bright future for Sabah under the Musa-Hajiji combination and the GRS government.
Sabah’s GRS is modelled after Sarawak’s GPS.
But it does not mean that Sabah has to follow Sarawak 100% in the forthcoming State election. Sarawak is Sarawak. Sabah is Sabah.
GPS can rule Sarawak on its own because it is strong enough and does not have to depend on KL-based parties like PKR and DAP, much less BN. GPS consists of PBB, SUPP, PRS and PDP.
Together, they control 79 of the 82 seats. Just imagine. DAP has only two seats while Independent one.
So, with that scenario, GPS does not need DAP or PKR for that matter.
PM Anwar also cannot force GPS to accept DAP Assemblymen (PKR has none) into the Sarawak State Government. Doing so would offend GPS whose 23 MPs enable Anwar to be PM.
The same cannot be said of Sabah. Beginning early 2023, GRS had to depend on DAP’s four and PKR’s two assemblymen and Upko’s one to stay in power after the failed coup attempt by Umno.
Both DAP and PKR are key component members of the federal ruling coalition called Unity Government or Kerajaan Madani headed by PH to which DAP and PKR belong.
But will this arrangement go on for the next State election?
My sources tell me that it will. One or two State-level PH leaders talked big after they became State leaders, like wanting to review the working relationship with GRS.
For young leaders to have ego, it is understandable.
But I understand that even his party leader at the national level wants the present arrangement to continue. All this talk about State leaders being given autonomy is only ego.
At the end of the day, what their bosses say in Kuala Lumpur matter. And, most importantly, it is what PM and Kerajaan Madani chairman Anwar says that matter. I understand that Anwar also wants the present arrangement to continue.
There is no reason for Hajiji not to continue working with PH anyway unless it’s PH who does not want to work with GRS for any reason.
PKR, especially, is PM’s party and Hajiji needs to take that into consideration. Anwar has no problem with Hajiji. He twice defended him openly, once during the failed coup two years ago and once while speaking in Tuaran recently.
In the meantime, leaders of certain opposition parties keep changing their tunes. Sometimes they say no co-operation with any party and at another they will say they can’t go it alone.
If anybody can go it alone, it’s GRS because it is a coalition of eight parties, similar to Sarawak’s GPS. The only reason why GRS+ is intact is because GRS is grateful to DAP and PKR. GRS is not a forgetful or ungrateful party. Unlike some opposition leader who after the 2020 State election stated that there is now only W– and no more W+.
Being the ruling coalition in Sabah, it is up to GRS+ (DAP & PKR) to say whether they want to work with you the opposition or not. Not up to the Opposition. GRS+ being the ruling coalition calls the shots. Beggars don’t demand.
One opposition party or coalition should not forget that they were rejected by Malaysians in 2018. So stop talking big now as if GRS must have you. Another opposition party was rejected by Sabahans in 2020. So similarly stop talking big.
Granted, you are PH’s coalition partners at the Federal level, but so is GRS which includes PBS and PGRS.
Meanwhile, the TYT in his policy speech highlighted that Sabah recorded total investments of RM 6.5 billion with 38.7 percent contributed by the manufacturing factor last year.
Musa said the figure clearly showed that the Sabah Government’s efforts to develop the manufacturing sector were on the right track and had succeeded in attracting more investors to the State.
The Governor said the manufacturing sector continued to play an important role in stimulating the State’s economy including opening up opportunities for technology integration, strengthening infrastructure and creating job opportunities.
“To that end, focus will be given to developing more downstream activities in key industries including that of biomass, oil palm, industrial tree plantations and oil and gas.
“By encouraging the expansion of these sectors, Sabah also has the potential to attract more investments thus, stimulating more sustainable economic growth for the State,” he added.
Musa said Sabah also managed to maintain the State revenue collection above the RM6 billion level at RM6.842 billion last year.
According to him, the Sabah Government has imposed State Sales Tax on three new products, namely silica sand, palm oil biomass brought out of Sabah, and gold and silver mined in the State.
In an effort to diversify revenue resources and reduce the State’s dependence on oil and gas resources, he said.
Meanwhile, Musa said the Sabah Government has drawn up a strategic direction for the State’s development for a five-year period through the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) with a focus on priority areas that are pillars of the State’s development.
“Therefore, I urge all Ministries, departments and State agencies to take proactive steps to plan development in line with this set direction to ensure that the real needs of Sabah are given priority,” he added.
The TYT said the Sabah Government would focus on implementing programmes and projects oriented towards development spending as an effort to ensure the smooth implementation of the State’s strategic development direction through the 13MP.
He said the commitment was in line with efforts to improve the State’s financial management and increase development expenditure compared to operating expenditure.
“With this effort, the achievement of the State’s economic development goals will be accelerated.
“I am confident that, with full cooperation from all parties, the process of preparing the 13MP will be able to run smoothly and orderly by taking into account various perspectives and needs, thereby laying a solid foundation for the sustainable and inclusive development of Sabah,” he said.
Sabah Maju Jaya. – Daily Express
