[UPDATED] Sabah CM confirms cabinet reshuffle

KOTA KINABALU – Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor today confirmed that there will be a state cabinet reshuffle.

In a short statement, he said that further details will be disclosed soon. 

Earlier today, The Vibes reported sources revealed that Hajiji was considering a reshuffle of the state cabinet, in which Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have ministerial positions.

This comes after BN and Warisan had allegedly tried to usurp state-ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) but failed.

The Vibes was made to understand that 15 of 17 BN assemblymen were supportive of the tie-up with Warisan’s 20 assemblymen.

The pact apparently failed to obtain the formidable numbers needed to form a new government against 29 GRS assemblymen, including four nominated assemblymen from the party.

The reshuffle could probably see Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin lose his position as Sabah deputy chief minister I and state works minister.  

Other BN assemblymen who are currently holding full ministerial positions in the Sabah cabinet include Datuk Jafry Ariffin (tourism, culture, and environment), Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (community development and people’s well-being), and Datuk Yakub Khan (science, technology, and innovation).  

The assistant ministers from BN are Datuk Jasnih Daya (finance), Datuk James Ratib (agriculture and fisheries), Mohd Tamin Zainal (industrial development), Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain (local government and housing), Harun Durabi (rural development), and Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (youth and sports).  

Yesterday, Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Christina Liew said all seven PH assemblymen have decided not to support any backdoor government.  

Last Wednesday (January 4), GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun stressed that Hajiji still had the majority support of Sabah’s assemblymen to remain as chief minister.

Sabah has 73 state seats, plus seven appointed assemblymen – four from GRS, two from Umno, and one from PAS.  

The state has two independent assemblymen, two from Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat, and one each from Perikatan Nasional, Harapan Rakyat Sabah, and Bersatu respectively. – The Vibes, January 6, 2023