KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (pic) is unsure if his term as Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman will be renewed.
“I cannot speak for myself, I don’t know,” said Bangkuai, who is also state Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, after an event here on Thursday (Dec 21).
“I think it’s best that we just wait for an announcement ... if there is anything to wait for,” he added when asked to comment on the possible renewal of his tenure.
His term as STB chairman ended in mid-November but he is still listed in that post on its website.
The Kiulu assemblyman was first appointed to helm STB in 2013 and served until 2018 but was not reappointed following a change in government that year.
After Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) took control following the snap state elections in 2020, the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief was later returned as STB chairman in 2021, besides being named an assistant minister.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew had on Dec 1 said the appointment of the STB chairman was in process but did not indicate if it was going to be a new face.
Asked if she was looking at a renewal for Bangkuai or placing a fresh face on the board, she replied: "It's a tricky question. Based on my records, (for) most of them (agencies under her ministry), the terms end in November and December. There may be some movement ... I will look into it.
"I also consult on and discuss such appointments with the Chief Minister," added the Sabah Pakatan Harapan chief.
Liew, who first served as state tourism minister during the Warisan Plus administration from 2018 to 2020, was reappointed as minister following the Sabah political crisis in January.
The crisis was triggered after Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin severed ties with GRS led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Working with Parti Warisan and Parti KDM, Sabah Umno attempted to overthrow Hajiji’s government but the latter managed to hold on to power thanks to support from seven Sabah Pakatan assemblymen and several Sabah Umno renegades.
This allowed Hajiji, the GRS chairman, to have majority support in the 79-seat Sabah state assembly.
