Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor said a special task force has been set up at every district to scrutinise the electoral rolls of their respective areas, following the sudden surge in new voters in Sabah.
He said the party machinery in each district know better the registered voters in their areas, like those living in the polling districts and villages.
“Yes, already (special task force). It is set up at every district level because they know better who the voters are in their respective areas. They have lived in their area for decades so they certainly know the people in their area.
“So, we will wait for the report from them,” he said, after launching “Sayang” cooking oil produced by the Sawit Kinabalu Group at Anjung Senja, Likas, here, Wednesday (see separate report).
Hajiji had said earlier that the sudden huge surge of 574,120 new voters within just four years cannot be taken lightly. Hajiji, who is Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Chairman, noted that these new voters were mostly registered as “Malay” but were unlikely from this State or the peninsula.
“This cannot be taken lightly. Others will come to our area later. We don’t want people to get power from the ballot box this way, that’s why we made a report with the relevant parties,” he had said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji has reshuffled the state Cabinet following the defection of Bandau Assemblyman Wetrom Bahanda.
Wetrom, who quit Bersatu to join Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) last week, was an Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s department.
Hajiji announced that assistant finance minister Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan will take over Wetrom’s role.
Nizam’s post will be taken over by Julita Majungki, the current assistant community development and people’s well-being minister.
Hajiji also announced the appointment of Pintasan Assemblyman Fairuz Renddan as the new assistant special functions minister. Fairuz is the Sabah Bersatu Youth chief.
Fairuz’s appointment has been approved by Governor Juhar Mahiruddin, he said. The swearing-in will be determined by the palace.
Fairuz’s previous post as political secretary to Sabah Finance Minister will be held by Kukusan Assemblywoman Rina Jainal.
Wetrom, who quit GRS on Oct 15, was appointed the party’s deputy president under the Muslim quota, as well as the party’s candidate for the Kota Marudu seat.
Wetrom, who contested under Perikatan Nasional in the 2020 state election, won the Bandau state seat with a majority of 3,363 votes.
After GRS formed the State Government, he was appointed as an Assistant Minister.
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