Peter Pang to be retained in Sabah cabinet

Datuk Peter Pang En Yin, who quit the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Wednesday, will be retained in the state cabinet for the moment, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said.

"For the time being, he will remain in the state cabinet and retain his ministerial portfolio and the post of deputy chief minister," Musa told reporters Thursday.

Musa, when met after the Sabah State Action Council meeting here, said he would discuss Pang's status with the Barisan Nasional component parties in the state.

Pang quit the LDP in disagreement over the party's stand that it could not work with Musa but would remain in the Barisan. Pang had offered to relinquish his government posts but said he would continue to serve as a Barisan representative under Musa's leadership.

Replying to a question, Musa said it was up to Pang if he wished to join any other Barisan component party.

Asked if Pang had informed him which party he would be joining, as it was reported that he was likely to join Gerakan, as stated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Wednesday, Musa said: "I don't know. Maybe. But he has not informed me."

Meanwhile, Sabah Gerakan has invited Pang to join the party.

Its chairman, Datuk Gordon Leong, said all Sabah Gerakan divisions made a collective unanimous decision to invite Pang to join the party.

"We believe that Sabah Gerakan will be able to provide Datuk Pang a platform to continue to play an effective role within the Sabah Barisan government and serve the people of Sabah," he said in a joint statement with two party vice-presidents, Datuk Raymond Tan and Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah. - Bernama