Took guts to cross the floor: Sabah party disappointed Jeffrey not made full minister

KOTA KINABALU: Opposition Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri is disappointed that Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan was not appointed a full minister.

Its president Datuk Henrynus Amin said Jeffrey – the new Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister – was a seasoned politician and his supporters expected him to be a full minister.

"It took guts for Jeffrey to cross the floor to be conspicuously seen with Umno, PAS and Bersatu top leaders at the crucial hour that brought Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin to power," he said in a statement Tuesday (March 10).

“Jeffrey's supporters had expected him to be rewarded and appointed one of the full ministers for his crucial role in helping form the Perikatan Nasional government, ” he said in congratulating the Sabahans who were given cabinet roles.

Henrynus said although Sabah was given two full Cabinet ministers and four deputy ministers, the party was sceptical about the effectiveness of the cabinet role given.

"It looks as if Sabah has been shortchanged in terms of the status, significance and relevance of cabinet postings," he said.

By comparison, he said, the new Perikatan Nasional cabinet appointment was, in fact, a demotion from Sabah's previous Pakatan Harapan cabinet position at federal level.

Henrynus said previously, Sabah’s Datuk Darrel Leiking held the International Trade and Industry Ministry, but it was now held by Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

Prior to this, Datuk Mohamad Din Ketapi held the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, but Jeffrey from Sabah is only the deputy minister, he said.

“Datuk Liew Vui Keong was minister in the Prime Minister's Department as the de facto Law Minister, a crucial position to implement the constitutional changes necessary to fulfil terms of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), ” he said.

Henrynus said Sabahans were still doubtful of the role of the Sabah Sarawak Affairs portfolio in the Prime Minister's Department.

He said the terms of reference for the cabinet post on Sabah and Sarawak Affairs must be quickly defined and clarified.

“The minister in charge, Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, must be given space to deal with issues such as Sabah and Sarawak proprietary claim on oil and gas resources within their defined border, the 40% entitlement of net federal revenue and so on, ” he said.