Sarawak may get more than three DCMs, says Zahid

Sarawak could see more than three deputy chief ministers appointed, as the state constitution may be amended to allow for additional DCMs, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"I don't want to confirm this but there are efforts being made so that the state constitution is amended to allow for more than three DCMs to be appointed," Ahmad Zahid said at a press conference after the Home Ministry Family Day in Cheras today.

He was responding to a question about his earlier statement that he will try to convince Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem to appoint more Chinese ministers and even a Chinese DCM.

This comes as controversy arises over Adenan's newly unveiled team which was noticeably lacking a Chinese DCM despite him previously urging Chinese voters to back BN if they want to see one of their race in the post.

The three appointed DCMs are former minister Douglas Uggah, PRS president James Masing, and PBB deputy president Abang Johari Abang Openg.

Defending his move, Adenan denied promising a Chinese DCM, stating that this would only be possible if BN had won all Chinese-majority seats.

Though in today's press conference, Zahid had also said that it is ultimately up to Adenan to appoint whoever he wants as DCM, even if it is more than three, Chinese or not.

"Because they obtained more than two-thirds majority, so I leave it to the state leadership," he said.

He stressed that a motion needs to be presented at the state assembly first before the constitution can be amended.

Malaysiakini, in a bid to establish the facts of the matter, had obtained a recording of the April 28 press conference in Kuching where Adenan purportedly made the comments on the Chinese DCM as reported byBorneo Post.

From the recording, it appears Adenan's quotes reported in Borneo Post were not entirely accurate.

However, he also made no efforts to clarify the Borneo Post report even though the supposed promise had significant bearing on the election campaign. -Mkini