Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has announced that the upcoming 17th Sabah state election will mark his final bid for office, signaling his intent to make way for the next generation of leaders to guide the Bornean state.
In an interview with Astro Awani, Hajiji, who chairs Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), emphasized his commitment to ensuring leadership continuity. “I have informed my Sulaman constituents that this will be my last state election,” he said.
As president of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Hajiji reflected on his unexpected rise to leadership despite over 35 years in politics. “I never anticipated receiving the mandate to lead Sabah,” he remarked.
Hajiji, an eight-term assemblyman for Sulaman, was appointed Sabah’s 16th chief minister following the 2020 state election, during his tenure as head of Sabah Bersatu.
In December 2022, shortly after the general election, Hajiji spearheaded a mass exit of Bersatu leaders in Sabah, aligning GRS with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
While GRS is collaborating with Pakatan Harapan for the forthcoming state election, it is anticipated to compete against federal ally Barisan Nasional at the polls.
