KUCHING: After a successful election outing, the task ahead for Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is to form his Cabinet and the spotlight will be on whether a Chinese will be appointed as one of his deputies.
Although he had made no indication of such an appointment, many are expecting him to do so.
After all, the Abang Johari-led Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s component party Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) had performed well in this election.
SUPP won 13 of the 18 seats it contested, including taking back five Chinese-majority seats from DAP.
The last Chinese deputy chief minister in Sarawak was former SUPP president Tan Sri George Chan, who served from 1996 to 2011.
There has not been a Chinese deputy chief minister since Chan's defeat in the 2011 state election.
In the last Cabinet, the deputy chief minister posts were held by PBB's Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and the late Tan Sri James Masing who was Parti Rakyat Sarawak president.
GPS secretary-general Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the appointment of any state ministerial posts, including deputy chief ministers, would be Abang Johari’s prerogative.
“Whoever the chief minister chooses as his deputy, including Dr Sim, we welcome and support the appointment,” he said, referring to SUPP president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Dr Sim retained his Batu Kawah seat with a higher majority in this election.
Political observers said it was only logical for Abang Johari to appoint a Chinese to be one of his deputies, particularly after SUPP had performed well in the polls.
“Abang Johari should appoint a Chinese deputy chief minister to continue the (support) momentum as the general election is not too far away,” said Dr Jeniri Amir.
The National Professors’ Council senior fellow pointed out that SUPP delivered 13 seats, the second highest after Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
PBB, the backbone of GPS, secured all 47 of the seats it contested.
“Based on the election outcome, the post should be given to SUPP,” he said.
Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi of Universiti Malaysia concurred on the need to appoint a deputy chief minister among the Chinese leaders to boost confidence and support of the community leading to the general election.
He also agreed that based on performance, it was fair to say that SUPP deserved the post.
“The Chief Minister should seriously consider this and it won’t be a surprise if the post goes to Dr Sim,” he said.
Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations president Datuk Richard Wee said the Chinese community would look forward to better positions in the state Cabinet following SUPP's good performance in the polls.
"Based on the previous arrangement whereby Chan was deputy chief minister, now that SUPP has this kind of results it's only natural that the Chinese community would be looking forward to such an appointment for the party president," he said when contacted.
Nevertheless, Wee said the Chinese respected the fact that it was the Chief Minister’s prerogative to appoint his new Cabinet.
"If there is a Chinese to be appointed as deputy chief minister, I would think Dr Sim, being the SUPP president and who has performed very well, should be considered for the position," he said.
He also noted that the deputy chief minister's post did not come with its own ministerial portfolio but would be a symbolic appointment to show that the government of the day recognised the Chinese swing in support in the election. - Star
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