Sabah Minister urges unity and stability as Sabah embarks on SMJ 2.0 journey

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 29): Sabah Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan has called on Sabahans to embrace 2026 with unity, stability and a shared commitment to the state’s future, following the decisive mandate given to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the recently concluded 17th Sabah State Election.

In his New Year 2026 message, Nizam expressed gratitude to the people of Sabah for entrusting GRS with the mandate to continue governing the state, describing the outcome as a clear signal that voters chose political maturity, stability and a government with a clear direction.

“The mandate clearly proves that the people chose stability, political maturity and a government with a clear roadmap to steer Sabah towards sustained progress and success,” he said.

He noted that GRS, under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, has been entrusted to lead the Sabah Unity Government — a decision he described as more than just a political victory.

“It is a strong signal that Sabahans want policy continuity, stable administration and leadership that prioritises the interests of the people and the future of the state,” Nizam added.

As Gagasan Rakyat information chief and now a member of the Sabah Cabinet, he said 2026 marks the beginning of an important new phase with the implementation of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 agenda for 2026–2030.

He expressed his appreciation to Hajiji for the confidence and trust placed in him with his ministerial appointment, saying he accepted the responsibility with full commitment.

“I will work to the best of my ability with the state government team to ensure every policy and initiative truly benefits the people and contributes to Sabah’s overall development,” he said.

Nizam explained that SMJ 2.0 will continue to strengthen three main development pillars: economic growth sectors that generate state revenue such as agriculture, industry and tourism; human capital development and people’s well-being; and the expansion of better, sustainable and green-based infrastructure networks.

In line with this agenda, his ministry will focus on nurturing proactive, competitive and high-impact youth, with emphasis on leadership development, future-ready skills, innovation and volunteerism.

“Youth must not only be recipients of opportunities, but creators of value and active contributors to state development and community well-being,” he stressed.

At the same time, he said efforts to position Sabah as a sports state will continue holistically, covering high-performance sports, para sports and mass participation sports to cultivate a healthy lifestyle among the people.

The ministry will also intensify efforts to empower the creative economy industry through skills enhancement, innovation, marketing and management, particularly in the creative and digital sectors, so that it can become one of Sabah’s new, sustainable and competitive economic drivers.

On state rights, Nizam reaffirmed that the Sabah government will remain consistent in championing Sabah’s interests based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), pursuing the matter in a principled and prudent manner within the framework of the Federation.

He added that close cooperation between the Sabah government under SMJ and the federal government based on the Malaysia Madani framework will continue to be strengthened for the benefit of Sabahans and to build a more inclusive, fair and balanced nation.

As the new year approaches, Nizam called on all Sabahans to continue giving their support and cooperation to the state government.

“Building a more advanced and successful Sabah is not the government’s responsibility alone, but a collective effort between leaders and the people,” he said.

He expressed hope that 2026 will bring renewed optimism, lasting stability and more meaningful progress for Sabah and its people.