KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman continued to receive support from Umno divisions in the state to lead the state government.
On Saturday, the Ranau and Papar divisions led by Datuk Masidi Manjun and Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail respectively pledged their undivided support to Musa.
Masidi said the federal leadership appointed Musa as the Chief Minister as they have faith in him to lead the state government, said two Umno divisional leaders.
They also said the Chief Minister has strong political will to safeguard the interest of the people and to bring the state to greater heights.
“We support Datuk Seri Musa as our leader … he has all the qualities of a good leader,” he said at the delegates’ conference in Ranau on Saturday.
Masidi also said that Musa is a good leader and a man of principle and whose priorities are to ensure development and to look after the welfare of the people.
“Musa is trustworthy and he has managed the state finances very well,” Masidi who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said, adding that the Chief Minister would not do anything that is against the interest of the state and people.
He also said Musa is not a leader who courts popularity.
“He is a leader who will speak up when things are not right. We in Umno Ranau give our sincere support to him as our leader in Sabah.
“And, this is not the time to talk about replacing the Chief Minister but to work diligently. There are many things to be done for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Rahim said Musa has managed the state well.
“Under Musa’s leadership, Sabah has continued to enjoy political stability and substantial economic growth and the state’s annual budget has increased every year,” he said.
Abdul Rahim also said under Musa, Sabah now has better infrastructure and facilities and the people’s standard of living has also improved.
“Apart from that, he has come up with a holistic development strategy. And he is also very committed in cutting Sabah’s poverty rate as reflected in the drastic reduction from 19.7 per cent in 2007 to 8.1 per cent in 2013.
“He is also working closely with the federal government to continue implementing high impact projects for the benefit of the people,” he said when speaking at his division’s delegates’ conference on Saturday.
Abdul Rahim added that the people in Papar really appreciate the Chief Minister’s efforts in securing for Sabah a 10 per cent stake in the Petronas-owned Liquefied Natural Gas Sdn Bhd (LNG 9) in Bintulu, Sarawak.
“The federal leadership appointed him as Chief Minister because they have confidence in his leadership and capability.
“We in Papar give our undivided support to him as Chief Minister and Sabah Umno chief. There is only one Chief Minister in Sabah and he is Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman,” he said.
Lumadan assemblyman Datuk Kamarlin Ombi also commended the effort by the state government in acquiring a 10 per cent stake in LNG 9.
He said the commitment of Musa was a strategic initiative that had been long waited and hoped for by Sabahans.
“The consent by Petronas on this matter will be seen as another platform in the State development, especially in the high-impact sectors such as the oil and gas industry.
“Although Petronas had previously proposed a five per cent equity, discussions with Musa yielded a double increase from the initial proposal. Musa has done a very good job, and I believe, it will boost the economic development in the State,” he said this to reporters after a dialogue at Kampung Gerama Resort in Beaufort on Saturday night.