Several Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) assemblypersons who had earlier expressed frustration over the inclusion of national party leaders in the new state cabinet have now been appointed as assistant ministers.
They were sworn in at Istana Seri Kinabalu earlier. The ceremony, witnessed by Sabah governor Musa Aman and attended by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, saw the appointment of 17 assistant ministers and six nominated assemblypersons.
Their portfolios have not yet been released, but the appointment is a step in consolidating the new Sabah administration after a period of online murmurs and political unease over the last 48 hours.
The critics sworn in were Pitas assemblyperson Ruddy Awah, Klias assemblyperson Isnin Aliasnih, and Kuala Penyu assemblyperson Limus Jury.
They were appointed alongside long-serving GRS figures such as Joniston Bangkuai, Juil Nuatim, Hendrus Anding, and Ben Chong.
Several independent lawmakers were also brought into the state administration - Pintasan’s Fairuz Renddan, Kukusan’s Rina Jainal, Bandau’s Maijol Mahap, and Tulid’s Jordan Jude Ellron, all of whom either contested outside their former parties or emerged victorious in closely watched races.
Nominated assemblypersons
The ceremony also saw the appointment of six nominated assemblypersons - including former Sabah Law Society president Roger Chin.
Other appointed assemblypersons include professionals and political figures such as Razali Razi, Abdul Kassim Razali, Chin Shu Ying, and Grace Lee, alongside Caesar Mandela Malakun, who also took his oath as an assistant minister.
The backdrop to these appointments was a brief surge of online commentary earlier in the past two days, when a small group of GRS representatives appeared to question whether the cabinet lineup was consistent with the coalition’s Sabah-centred messaging.
They seem to be referring to BN and Pakatan Harapan’s inclusion in the cabinet.
While no formal challenge had emerged yet, the discussion prompted GRS deputy secretary general Armizan Ali to issue a public reminder to avoid destabilising the government through indirect messaging or WhatsApp speculation.
Hajiji commands the support of 46 assemblypersons in the 73-seat assembly.
With the assistant ministers now sworn in, attention will turn to the next announcement: the allocation of portfolios. - Mkini
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