Hajiji: Sabah wants to explore new cooperation with Sarawak

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government wants to explore new areas of cooperation with Sarawak to enable the two Borneo states to continue to progress together, said Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor.

He said Sabah and Sarawak have many similarities in terms of culture, history, and struggles.

"Therefore, there are many synergies to be harnessed for the common good. As a member of the MA63 Special Council chaired by the Prime Minister, we have worked closely to push for the passing of the Federal Constitution Amendment 2021 Bill related to the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, last year," he said in a statement issued in conjunction with his working visit to Sarawak today.

He added that the working visit to the neighbouring state began by paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg to further strengthen the existing close ties between the two states.

"In the meeting which was also attended by his Cabinet members, Tan Sri Abang Johari shared his views on several matters including state-federal relations, the need for political stability, Sarawak's rights, and the common stand that Sarawak and Sabah can take in obtaining the states' rights," he said.

Hajiji said he and Abang Johari were no longer strangers and had known each other for a long time apart from having worked together while serving with the previous government.

He was accompanied by his three deputies, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin; Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam; state assembly speaker Datuk Kadzim Yahya; and state secretary Datuk Safar Untong.

-- BERNAMA