Winds of change in Sabah ministry

Young leader: Wong pictured during a media interview at the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry office which he now helms.

KOTA KINABALU: Two full ministers in Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s Cabinet are under the age of 40.

Warisan vice-president Junz Wong, 38, and Upko’s Youth leader Ewon Benedick, 36, were named as the Agriculture and Food Industries Minister and the Rural Development Minister respectively.

In the same Cabinet, a woman was also appointed as Deputy Chief Minister – a first in more than two decades.

Over the years, young Malaysians had called for increased representation of Youth leaders as office bearers, said Wong.

“A mixture of younger and senior leaders in the Cabinet is important because seniors can offer their advice and experience, while the younger ones can help to better the execution and have a fresh pair of eyes,” said the two-term assemblyman who is now Tanjong Aru representative.

As the new minister in charge of agriculture and food industries, Wong, whose background is in business and finance, hopes to get rid of red tape to make way for smoother administration in his ministry.

Wong said his focus in the office would be on turning Kota Belud, which is about 75km northeast of Kota Kinabalu, into an urban rice bowl.

“This is the project we have been talking about for nine years and it is time to deliver it,” said Wong, adding that the ministry will kickstart the initiative by upgrading the irrigation system for Kota Belud in order for it to adopt modern-day farming.

Wong also pledges to protect rubber smallholders and look into ways to help them milk higher income for their produce.

Another focus of his is to boost the fisheries industry in Sabah by improving the facilities for fishermen and weeding out illegal fishing activities by both Sabahans and illegal fishing boats.

In the 11-member Cabinet line-up, Sabah PKR chairman Christina Liew was appointed as Deputy Chief Minister, becoming the first Chinese woman to hold the post, and the second woman after former Parti Bersatu Sabah’s Datuk Ariah Tengku Ahmad, who helmed the same post more than two decades ago.

Three women were also appointed as assistant ministers: Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif for the Health and People’s Wellbeing Ministry; Moyog assemblyman Jenifer Lasimbang for the Education and Innovation Ministry; and Kepayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang for the Law and Native Affairs Ministry.