Phoong: Sabah Harapan did not seek cabinet positions

 

Sabah Pakatan Harapan did not seek any positions in the state cabinet, said newly appointed Industrial Development Minister Phoong Jin Zhe.

Speaking to reporters in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, Phoong (above) said the decision to back Hajiji Noor as chief minister was decided by him and the six other assemblypersons solely to ensure political stability.

"It was a move we were forced to make," said Phoong, according to Borneo Post.

"We did not request for the appointment of any Harapan assemblypersons in the state cabinet in return. That was of his (Hajiji’s) own volition.

"Whether the government is to be transformed into a unity government after his term ends is up to them."

Last Friday, Hajiji’s administration looked set to collapse after 12 out of 17 BN assemblypersons withdrew support for Hajiji.

The following day, seven Harapan assemblypersons pledged their support for Hajiji. Phoong, the assemblyperson for Luyang and Christina Liew, the assemblyperson for Api-api, were eventually brought into Hajiji's cabinet.

Phoong said allegations of Harapan being "power hungry" were untrue because they did not initiate an attempt to oust a sitting government.

"If we had taken part in such attempts, then you could say that we are power hungry. However, we have never taken any initiatives to overthrow the government even though we could have done so," said Phoong.

Phoong alleged that "both sides" had urged Harapan assemblypersons to sign statutory declarations but these offers were declined.

Likening the situation to the "Sheraton Move" in 2020, Phoong said the correct forum to prove support for the chief minister was through the legislative assembly. - Mkini