KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will scout for a solid and capable candidate for the deputy prime minister’s post following separate proposals by Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan to have one such position for Sabah and Sarawak.
“Yes, we support the call. We will find someone who is really capable,” said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He, however, did not say whether the candidate would be from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia or Barisan Nasional in Sabah.
Speaking to reporters after attending a Deepavali luncheon here, Hajiji said having a DPM from Sabah would be good for the state’s economic and social development.
Hajiji who is Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, said they would maintain its good terms with Barisan so that they would remain strong going into the general election.
“Such a good relationship would become a source of strength for both coalitions,” he said.
He said this when asked about his meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is an Umno vice-president, on Sunday.
The meeting went well, he said.
“Everything is good. The cooperation between GRS and Barisan is good,” Hajiji.
On questions regarding seat allocations between GRS and Barisan in Sabah, he said they had finalised their candidates and would be announcing the list very soon.
Meanwhile, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said the proposal for such a DPM post from Sabah and Sarawak was long overdue.
He said matters about such an appointment had been discussed in the Special Council on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MKMA63) for the consideration of the Federal Government.
“In fact, the Equal Partner Working Committee is looking into the matter related to the equal status of both Sabah and Sarawak in the Constitution,” he said.
Any fulfilment to that effect would be consistent with the constitutional provision of giving Sabah and Sarawak equal status in the Federation of Malaysia, he said.
“It will represent the new Malaysia. It will be a major leap forward for the Malaysian Federation, and I am confident it will be unanimously agreed by the MKMA63,” he said in a statement.
Parti Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman said Sabah and Sarawak deserved a chance to hold the nation’s number one position in government instead of just being the number two.
He likened the DPM post as “candies”.
“Does it mean that Sabah and Sarawak leaders do not deserve to hold the prime minister’s position?
“What does the equal partner status actually mean if the number one post can only be held by someone from Peninsular Malaysia?” he said in a statement yesterday.
Instead of offering “candies” to Sabah and Sarawak, he said political parties should instead focus on fulfilling Sabah rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
He said Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal had been offered the position when Perikatan Nasional was in power.
“But we declined the offer. What Sabahans really want immediately is for the MA63 to be fulfilled without delay, without any more committees and roundtable discussions or excuses,” he said.
