By : ELAINE MAH AND FIZAH
YUSOF
CHIEF MINISTER Datuk Seri
Panglima Musa Aman presented his new cabinet line-up recently at his official
residence following the ministers’ oath of office before Head of State Tun
Juhar Mahiruddin.
The new cabinet comprises
both new and old faces, and nine new assistant ministers.
Datuk Radin Malleh will take
the post of Minister of Rural Development, a portfolio previously held by Datuk
Ewon Ebin. Former Assistant Minister to the Minister of Resource Development
and Information Technology Datuk Jainab Ayid will take over the Ministry of
Community Development and Consumer Affairs from her predecessor Datuk Azizah
Dun. Datuk Siringan Gubat and Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan will respectively
head the Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology and the
Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Musa also introduced a new
ministry – the Ministry of Special Tasks – that will be held by Datuk Teo Chee
Kang who is also a fresh face in the line-up.
Datuk Hajiji Noor and Datuk
Masidi Manjun both retained their respective portfolios as Minister of Local
Housing and Government and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment.
Tan Sri Joseph Pairin
Kitingan, President of Parti Bersatu Sabah and Datuk Yahya Hussin, Sabah UMNO
secretary were both retained as Deputy Chief Ministers, each keeping their
respective portfolios as Minister of Infrastructure Development and Minister of
Agriculture and Food Industry.
Replacing Datuk Dr. Yee Moh
Chai as Deputy Chief Minister representing the Chinese community is Gerakan
Vice President Datuk Raymond Tan. Tan is not new to the position, as he
previously served as Deputy Chief Minister between 2004 and 2008. He will also
retain his position as the Minister of Industrial Development.
There are nine new assistant
ministers, comprising Datuk Arifin Mohd Arif, Datuk Ramlee Marahaban, Datuk
Joachim Gunsalam, Datuk Hamisa Samad, Datuk Nilwan Kabang, Datuk Zakaria Idris,
Datuk Kamarlin Ombi, Anita Baranting and Masiung Banah.
The assistant ministers retained
are Datuk Musbah Jamli, Datuk Bolkiah Ismail, Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, Datuk Edward
Yong Oui Fah, Datuk Ellron Angin, Datuk Michael Asang, Datuk Bobbey Ahfang
Suan, Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar and Datuk Sairin Karno.
Former Minister in the Chief
Minister’s Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran is appointed the new Chairman of
Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) with ministerial status.
Musa is confident that the
new Cabinet line-up is a strong, dynamic and cohesive team that will be able to
work together in carrying out the State’s development agenda.
The appointment of those who
previously held cabinet positions will ensure
continuity through their previous ministerial experiences, while the new
members will inject fresh ideas and expertise, Musa said.
Newly appointed full
Minister Jainab thanked Musa for believing in her and said that she will do her
very best with the new portfolio.
“I will ensure that the
people of Sabah especially in the rural areas will be given full attention
especially by the welfare department,” she said.
She also said that she would
work in close rapport with other leaders, village heads, NGOs and other parties
involved to better manage the welfare of the people.
Minister of Special Tasks
Datuk Teo Chee Kang told reporters that he only learned about his appointment
to the Cabinet in the morning of the
oath taking ceremony. He thanked the Chief Minister for the appointment.
Teo said he was mindful of
the challenges that await him and pledged to serve the people to the best of
his ability. (Insight Sabah)
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