KOTA KINABALU – After swapping ministerial posts, Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, now says all is good in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition, and blamed the ministerial changes to miscommunication.
At a press conference earlier today, newly-appointed Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor announced that Bung Moktar and Bersatu deputy chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun will swap state ministries.
Bung had been named deputy chief minister I, and will now head the Infrastructure Development Ministry, while Masidi is now the state’s local government and housing minister.
“I guess we are still one team. We will work together. I am confident we will work longer,” he told reporters at his residence after the swearing-in ceremony.
When asked on the rumoured internal conflict in GRS, Bung Moktar said, “such changes (swapping ministries) can happen”, dismissing talks that the coalition’s lynchpin parties – Bersatu and Umno – are at loggerheads over positions in the state cabinet.
Sources told The Vibes that Bung Moktar had stormed out minutes after the swearing-in ceremony in what appears to be a breach of agreement on ministerial posts.
It is believed that Sabah Umno made way for Bersatu to take on the chief minister position in return for more ministerial posts.
On whether the opposition approached any Sabah Umno reps, Bung Moktar said “no”.
“All of my assemblymen are well-trained. They don’t want to jump anymore.”
He added the GRS coalition will last longer, and the focus of the state is to contain the Covid-19 outbreak and fulfilling the “Aku Janji” manifesto.
Sabah Umno won 14 seats in the state polls but Perikatan Nasional (PN) took 17. Bersatu, which is part of PN, only has 11 seats. – The Vibes, September 29, 2020
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