Sabah Cabinet to be reshuffled, says Hajiji

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is set to reshuffle the Sabah Cabinet.

In a brief statement on Friday (Jan 6), he said that details of the reshuffle will be announced soon.

"There will be a State Cabinet reshuffle. Details will be disclosed soon," said Hajiji who is currently facing the possibility of Sabah Barisan Nasional withdrawing support for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-led state government.

Speculation has been rife that Bung, who is Deputy Chief Minister and state Works Minister as well as Datuk Jafry Arifin, the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, could be axed from the Cabinet as Hajiji takes measures to strengthen control of the state government.

Jafry is also Sabah Umno secretary.

Political circles are expecting Hajiji to retain Sabah Umno's Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya and several others who are not aligned with Bung, within the state Cabinet.

Hajiji's move to reshuffle the state Cabinet comes after an alleged bid by Parti Warisan and Barisan to topple the GRS government on Thursday (Jan 5).

Hajiji has gained the support of Sabah Pakatan Harapan amid talks that Sabah Umno, with 17 assemblymen, are split over the move to support Warisan, led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

So far, Bung has not responded to the claims that Barisan was working with Warisan in the move to topple GRS.

Sabah's political situation remains fluid amid fresh talk that Barisan and Warisan are planning to make Bung the chief minister instead of Shafie.

Political analyst Tony Paridi Bagang, a UiTM senior lecturer, said the current political impasse could see the Sabah assembly dissolved or a change in government.

He said the situation would disrupt the lives of the people and affect investors' confidence.

Many local political observers said it was important for Bung and Hajiji to resolve their differences as the likely political scenario would end in instability and snap elections.