{
  "id": 15377550,
  "title": "Hajiji recalls mother borrowing RM15 for exam fees as he vows poverty will not define Sabah children",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/hajiji-recalls-mother-borrowing-rm15-for-exam-fees-as-he-vows-poverty",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T07:46:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/18/hajiji-recalls-mother-borrowing-rm15-for-exam-fees-as-he-vows-poverty-will-not-define-sabah-children/239608"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUDAT, Oct 18 — Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has vowed that poverty will not define the destiny of Sabah's children. The pledge stems from his own life story: growing up poor, losing his father early, and seeing his mother struggle to pay for his Lower Certificate of Education (LCE) exam fees in 1971. At that time, she had to borrow RM15 from relatives to secure his future. \"Parents today face the same struggles in raising their children and providing them with an education,\" Hajiji emphasized. \"That's why I've taken a firm stance to ensure poverty doesn't dictate the fate of our children. Education is the key to lifting our children out of poverty.\" As the GRS chairman, Hajiji announced an increase in financial support for the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS) to RM155 million in 2026, up from RM55 million in 2021, to aid underprivileged students. Through the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development framework, 480,000 students have benefited from 14 educational assistance programs, including cash assistance (BUDI), computer aid (BAIK), and flight ticket subsidies (SUBFLY). The Chief Minister also discussed the state's economic future, emphasizing the new 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) investments in large-scale infrastructure. With RM7 billion in annual revenue, the government is tackling longstanding issues and focusing on 173 road projects and 77 water treatment and supply systems. The Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA) with Petronas since 2021 has expanded local participation in the oil and gas sector from 133 contracts to 499 in 2025. Hajiji reiterated the government's commitment to Sabah's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) in negotiations with the Federal Government. To complement infrastructure efforts, targeted welfare programs, such as the 'Rumah Mesra SMJ' initiative for constructing 11,000 homes for vulnerable groups and young couples, are underway. The goal is to build 50 'Rumah Mesra SMJ' homes in each state constituency this year, ensuring equitable progress across Sabah, including rural and interior areas.",
  "summary": "KUDAT, Oct 18 — Ensuring that poverty does not determine the fate of Sabah’s children or stand in the way of...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Hajiji: RM18.7b allocation, up from RM17.6b, to drive Sabah development, fix water, power, roads",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/hajiji-rm18-7b-allocation-up-from-rm17-6b-to-drive-sabah-development",
        "published": "2026-10-18T02:16:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Hajiji urges GRS leaders to put Sabah first, warns against infighting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/hajiji-urges-grs-leaders-to-put-sabah-first-warns-against-infighting",
        "published": "2026-10-18T09:24:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}