KOTA KINABALU: The inclusion of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the unity government will boost political stability and investor confidence in the state, political secretary to the chief minister, Ceasar Mandela Malakun, said.
He said it was a right move in view of the looming threat of global recession next year which would affect the country.
"We welcome Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's press statement this morning confirming that the GRS-led state government will be part of the unity government.
"With the looming threat of global recession next year that will affect our country, our economy will inevitably face some difficulties.
"Sabah and Sarawak will be affected as we are two of the biggest oil and gas and palm oil producing states in Malaysia. Lower export demand due to slower growth may in turn impact state revenue.
"With this risk of a slower global economic growth as a result of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, geopolitical uncertainty and global inflation pressure in 2023, it is important that we have a strong and stable unity government in Malaysia," he said in a statement.
Mandela said political stability would boost investor confidence, especially in industrial manufacturing and tourism, thus enabling GRS to continue making the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan 1.0 (2021-2025) a success.