Seventeen Sabah assemblymen, including 11 from GRS and four Independents, were sworn in as assistant ministers at Istana Seri Kinabalu
KOTA KINABALU: Seventeen Sabah assemblymen were sworn in as assistant ministers before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu today.
Eleven of the new assistant ministers represent Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
They are Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (Kiulu), Datuk Seri Ruddy Awah (Pitas), Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Datuk Samad Jambri (Labuk), and Datuk Limus Jury (Kuala Penyu).
The other GRS appointees are Datuk Ruslan Muharam (Lumadan), Datuk Hendrus Anding (Tandek), Datuk Jonnybone J. Kurum (Telupid), Datuk Juil Nuatim (Limbahau), Datuk Chong Chen Bin (Tanjong Kapor), and Dr Andi Md Shamsureezal Mohd Sainal (Tanjung Batu).
Four Independent assemblymen were also sworn in.
They are Datuk Fairuz Renddan (Pintasan), Datuk Rina Jainal (Kukusan), Datuk Dr Maijol Mahap (Bandau), and Jordan Jude Ellron (Tulid).
Datuk Mohd Ishak Ayub from Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) was sworn in as the Bingkor assemblyman’s assistant minister.
His appointment is understood to be in a personal capacity, as STAR has stated it would not join the state government.
Another assistant minister sworn in was appointed assemblyman Datuk Caesar Mandela Malakun.
Five others received their letters of appointment as nominated assemblymen.
They are Datuk Mohamed Razali Mohamed Razi, Datuk Chin Shu Ying, Datuk Roger Chin Ken Fong, Grace Lee Li Mei, and Datuk Abdul Kassim Razali.
Under Article 14(1) of the Sabah Constitution, the Head of State may appoint up to six nominated assembly members.
The ceremony followed Sunday’s swearing-in of GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Sabah’s 17th Chief Minister.
It also came after Monday’s oath-taking of 10 state Cabinet members.
The new Sabah Cabinet comprises eight GRS representatives and one each from UPKO, Pakatan Harapan (PH), and Barisan Nasional (BN).
In the 17th Sabah State Election, GRS won 29 of the 73 seats.
Warisan secured 25 seats, followed by BN (6), Independents (5), and UPKO (3).
STAR won two seats, while Perikatan Nasional, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia, and PH secured one seat each. – Bernama
