Maznah to vacate Pahang state exco position

KUANTAN: The appointment of Pahang Exco member Datuk Maznah Mazlan as the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment means that her state portfolios will fall vacant when she moves to the federal capital.

Maznah is currently in charge of the Women’s Development, Welfare, Tourism, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage portfolio.

Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said that as a state Exco member since 2000, Maznah had a proven track record but would have to relinquish her state posts the moment she was sworn in as a senator on May 1 and subsequently as deputy minister.

“I have not decided yet who will replace her, although it will not necessarily be a woman,” he told a press conference at his residence yesterday.

Adnan said the Prime Minister had asked for his views on Maznah’s abilities and performance on Wednesday and he told Maznah of her appointment the next day.

Maznah, in a telephone interview, said: “I am delighted because it is a great honour for me, for the state and the Wanita Umno.

“Apart from that, I will be having a new working environment which would be a great challenge to me.

“However, I am sad to have to leave my working team in the state.”

“I owe MB and Pak Lah as well for having the confidence and trust on me to hold that deputy minister post,” she said.

“InsyaAllah, I will be working hard, give my full commitment and cooperation to Pak Lah and the Government as well,” she said.

Meanwhile in Kota Kinabalu, former Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Lajim Ukin found that moving to the Beaufort parliamentary seat enabled him to be named Deputy Transport Minister.

Kudat MP Datuk Rahim Bakri was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister.

Both expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister for giving them the opportunity to serve the nation.

“This is an honour for the people of Sabah as well,” said Lajim.

Their appointments came in the wake of Kalabakan MP Datuk Ghapur Salleh’s resignation as Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister and Kimanis MP Datuk Anifah Aman turning down the Deputy Transport Minister’s post.

Lajim was among the first of several assemblymen to quit the Parti Bersatu Sabah in 1994 to join Umno.