CHIEF Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has announced a reshuffle of Sabah assistant Ministers, which saw three assemblymen take their oath before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, at Istana Seri Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu, on Jan 26.
Hajiji said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Vice President Datuk Ruslan Muharam, who is also Lumadan Assemblyman, has been appointed Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, while Inanam Assemblyman Peto Gadim (PKR) was appointed Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister, and Likas Assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt (DAP), Assistant Finance Minister.
“The appointments were also to fill positions left vacant by Datuk James Ratib, former Assistant Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, who is now (state) Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister; and Datuk Jasnih Daya who relinquished his post as Assistant Finance Minister.
“Today’s appointments and reshuffle of Assistant Ministers is a continuing effort to consolidate and strengthen the government administration,” he said.
All three assemblymen signed their respective letters of appointments, witnessed by Kota Kinabalu High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim.
Hajiji said that four assistant Ministers also changed portfolios, namely Datuk Seri Dr Ruddy Awah, from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), as Assistant Rural Development Minister; Datuk Fairuz Renddan (GRS) as Assistant Youth and Sports Minister; Datuk Harun Durabi, from Barisan Nasional (BN), as Assistant Science, Technology and Innovation Minister; and Datuk Andi Suryady Bandy (BN) as Assistant Industrial Development Minister.
“I would like to stress the importance for the state government, under my leadership, to function as a cohesive team who share the same aspirations, built on mutual trust and respect. We need a strong team to push our development momentum, and to fulfil our election pledges for the people and state,” he said.
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