Hajiji (middle, front row) at the GRS Information Programme.
KOTA KINABALU (July 8): Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) information heads must explain what are the initiatives and accomplishments of the current government.
GRS president Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said many of the present government’s initiatives and accomplishments have not been relayed to the grassroots.
“Some people may not even be aware of them. So this is their responsibility. They must explain to the people the achievements of the current government, what has been done, what has been provided to the people, to the poor and so in,” said Hajiji, who is also Sabah Chief Minister, at the Gagasan Rakyat Sabah’s Information Bureau programme closing ceremony held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Monday.
Also to be shared with the grassroots are investments that have come in since the present government took office, the thousands of job opportunities that the people of Sabah have received, and so forth, he said.
“This is important,” he stressed. Hajiji said they must also counter slanders and lies spread on social media.
“If not, the public will believe things that are not true. This is the duty of information chiefs at all levels,” he said.
On the State Legislative Assembly sitting from July 9 to 11, Hajiji said they would be tabling the supplementary budget allocation required by the government for the mid-term until the end of the year.
Hajiji also commented on the Kota Kinabalu Port congestion surcharge which will be imposed by shipping companies starting July 16
“We have discussed this matter in the Cabinet,” he said.
He also said that the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship had also been asked to find a solution to the port issue.
He added that the Sabah Government had not received any reports on the issue as the surcharge will be imposed by a company and not the government.
“We would like to know how the government can solve this issue,” he said.
The Malaysia Shipping Corporation and MTT Shipping had announced the imposition of a congestion surcharge due to significant delays in vessel turnaround times, which affected the supply chain.
The proposed surcharge range from RM500 to RM1,000 with an additional charge for shipper-owned container shipments.
On Saturday, Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Phoong Jin Zhe said the State Government is addressing the congestion issues at Sepanggar Port and the potential increase in surcharges, which have raised the concern of industry players.
