KINABATANGAN: No one should use the "Sabah Maju Jaya" (SMJ) state slogan to ridicule the government, says state Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said such behaviour, especially from the opposition, was inappropriate and disrespected the official motto and emblem of the state of Sabah.
Hajiji said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) government's utilisation of SMJ in its development plan was aimed at elevating and reinforcing the esteemed status of the slogan.
This motto has existed since the early days of Sabah's independence.
"We chose SMJ because it has been engraved in Sabah's history since its early days of independence. I use it to uplift and reinforce the significance of that motto.
"Those who envy us, or those who had no direction in the past, often express negative thoughts like 'SMJ has potholed roads, SMJ lacks water'.
"This is what the opposition is doing today. It reflects their ill intentions and excessive negativity because, for us, SMJ is a motto that must be strengthened and dignified. No one has used it before me, but I am using it to develop Sabah," he said in a statement issued by the Sabah Chief Minister's Office.
Hajiji, who is also Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) president, said this at the Sukau/Lamag division party gathering at Sukau Town Square here.
He said SMJ had received acknowledgement from the federal government via the Road Transport Department (RTD), which agreed to designate "SMJ" as a special number plate for state government vehicles.
Other successful initiatives under SMJ included financial aid for Sabah's students pursuing diploma and degree programmes.
During his two years in office, Hajiji said the government had achieved significant economic milestones, including agreements with Petroliam Nasional Bhd that had enabled Sabah to get a share of the company's interests in several oil and gas projects in the state.
Hajiji, who is also Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, expressed confidence in Gagasan Rakyat's ability to garner support from people in the state, including in Lamag and Sukau.
Both constituencies are Umno strongholds.
"I am delighted today because it is evident that Gagasan Rakyat is starting to be accepted in Lamag and Sukau, promising a bright future.
"I hope both division chiefs continue to work hard to ensure that Sukau and Lamag become Gagasan Rakyat strongholds in the upcoming state election.
Hajiji approved a project to build a hall in Sukau worth RM3 million and supported the proposal to establish Sukau as a small district.
Present were Gagasan Rakyat deputy president Datuk Masiung Banah, secretary-general Datuk Mohd Razali Razi, information chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, Gagasan Rakyat Sukau division chief Datuk Juhari Janan, and Gagasan Rakyat Lamag division chief Abu Bakar Gapar.