Sabah appoints PAS member in state assembly

 By Olivia Miwil - October 8, 2020 @ 12:12pm

Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy president and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan had previously claimed that such an appointment was merely fake news. - NST Photo.

KOTA KINABALU: A PAS member has been appointed to the Sabah assembly despite strong objections from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaders.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy president and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan had also previously claimed that such an appointment was merely fake news.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), which is part of GRS, had previously objected to having a PAS member in the assembly due to local sentiments and because the party had not taken part in the 16th state election.

Sabah PAS secretary Dr Aliaakbar Gulasan, who is also a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, has since been listed among six appointed assemblymen.

Others are Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee, deputy state Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia Srikandi Chief Datuk Amisah Yassin, Sabah Umno Information Chief Raime Unggi, Sabah Umno treasurer Suhaimi Nasir and former PKR Libaran division chief Jaffari William.

However, Yong and Amisah were not present at the ceremony.

Sabah Yang-diPertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin also swore in Speaker Datuk Kadzim Yahya, five ministers and 18 assistant ministers today.

Full ministers are Special Tasks minister Datuk Aripin Mohd Arif; Tourism,Culture and Environment minister Datuk Jafry Arifin; Community Development and People's Wellbeing minister Shahelmy Yahya; Science, Technology and Innovation minister Datuk Yakubah Khan; as well as Youth and Sports minister Datuk Ellron Angin.

Paginatan assemblyman Datuk Abidin Madingkir and Bandau assemblyman Datuk Wetrom Bahanda were sworn in as the assistant ministers to the Chief Minister; while Apas' Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan and Pantai Dalit's Jasni Daya became the assistant Finance Minister.

Kuala Penyu's Datuk Limus Jury and Bingkor's Robert Tawik will be assisting the Public Works ministry; Sugut's Datuk James Ratib and Tandek's Hendrus Anding were selected as the assistant Agriculture and Fisheries ministers.

Klias' Datuk Isnin Aliasnih and Sungai Sibuga's Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supian were appointed as assistant Local government and Housing ministers; while Labuk's Samad Jambri and Bengkoka's Harun Durabi became Assistant Rural Development minister.

Shahelmy will be assisted by two elected women representatives - Matunggong's Datuk Julita Mojungki and Tulid's Flovia Ng.

Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkual is the assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment minister and Pantai Manis Tamin Zainal is appointed as assistant Industry Development minister.

Pitas' Datuk Ruddy Awah will be Assistant Community Development and People's Wellbeing minister; while Tanjung Batu's Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy is Youth and Sports Minister.