Kota Kinabalu: The State Farmers’ Organisation (PPN) Sabah welcomed the reassignment of Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof to a new ministry portfolio in the Cabinet reshuffle of the Unity Government.
Its Chairman Datuk Mohd Nazri Abdullah said Fadillah, who is now heading the Energy Transition and Public Utilities Minister, is an important portfolio established by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“PPN Sabah welcomes Fadillah’s reassignment to the newly created ministry, as well as being responsible for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs.
Mohd Nazri, who has known Fadillah when he was a Deputy Minister, is confident that with his good friend’s extensive experience in administration at the Federal and State Government levels, he can shoulder the new responsibilities.
“Similarly to the Sabah and Sarawak affairs, he was able to meet the expectations of the people of both Sabah and Sarawak, especially those involving the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) rights,” he said in a statement Thursday, commenting on the Federal Cabinet Reshuffle announced by Anwar on Tuesday.
Anwar in a press conference announcing the new Cabinet line-up said the Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry is a new ministry split from the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry.
He said Fadillah, who is the first DPM from the Borneo bloc, is responsible for the Sabah and Sarawak affairs.
“Because we made the affairs of all states, including Sabah and Sarawak, the affairs of the Cabinet of Ministers directly and the responsibility of me and Fadillah, then there was no Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister.
“This will be managed by the Deputy Prime Minister (Fadillah) himself,” he said.
The Ministerial Portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Department for Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Duties was previously held by Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
Armizan also previously held the position of Acting Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister following the death of its incumbent Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub last July and in this Cabinet reshuffle, was appointed as full minister of the portfolio.
Fadillah previously held the portfolio of Plantation and Commodities Minister.
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