Unnecessary to create own health and education ministries for Sabah, says ex-CM

The creation of Sabah's own health and education ministries is unnecessary as the state has no power over such matters, said former chief minister Yong Teck Lee.

Speaking at Sabah Progressive Party's (SAPP) congress yesterday, Yong, who is also the party's president, said health and education remained under the purview of the federal government.

“Both health and education are still listed in the list in the 9th Schedule of the Federal Constitution. This means health and education remain under the purview of the federal government, not Sabah.

“Until such time that the federal constitution has been amended to transfer powers and finances to Sabah, it is superfluous to create these two new ministries that have neither power nor money to look after health and education,” he said, according to Free Malaysia Today.

About a week after Pakatan Harapan won the 14th general election, the coalition together with its Sabah-based partner Warisan formed three new state ministries namely Health and People’s Wellbeing Ministry; Education and Innovation Ministry; and Laws and Native Affairs Ministry.

Yong, who served as Sabah chief minister from 1996 to 1998, returned unopposed as SAPP president during the congress.

SAPP is a part of a third bloc in Sabah politics, called United Sabah Alliance (Gabungan Sabah), which also consists of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah and Parti Kebangsaan Sabah.

In his speech, Yong also touched on the state opposition pact, saying that he was open to the idea of Gabungan Sabah’s components working with other parties for the state's benefits.

“Even though Gabungan Sabah itself is a coalition of political parties, I see no reason why we cannot work with other coalitions which share common objective for Sabah.

“The May 9 election results, which displaced Barisan Nasional-Umno as the dominant political party in Malaysia, had given us some hope that, at last, perhaps, Sabah will be accorded our autonomy and our rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“But after seven months, the picture doesn’t seem rosy after all,” he said, according to FMT. -Mkini