KOTA KINABALU: Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is expected to balance his new state Cabinet with freshly elected leaders of the GRS-Pakatan Harapan alliance.
Having been sworn in as Chief Minister for a second term in the wee hours of yesterday, Hajiji is likely to accommodate Upko, Parti KDM and at least five Independents in his new 11-member line-up.
Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick has announced that his party, which won three seats, is backing Hajiji who also apparently has the support of the five Independent assemblymen.
It is learnt that Parti KDM, which won one seat, has also aligned itself with GRS which secured 39 seats in the 73-seat state assembly.
An honour: Hajiji taking the oath before Musa during the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Seri Kinabalu following the conclusion of the 17th Sabah state election. — Bernama
In the next few days, Hajiji is also expected to propose six nominated assemblymen to be appointed by Governor Tun Musa Aman that will give the GRS coalition government an overall 45 seats in the expanded 79-member assembly.
Sources said Hajiji is likely to include Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and Gagasan Rakyat vice-presidents Datuk Mohd Ariffin Arif and Datuk James Ratib in his Cabinet.
PBS might also get an additional ministerial post with the party winning six seats under the GRS banner.
Two former state Cabinet members – Sabah DAP chairman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe and Datuk Ellron Angin – lost in the election.
According to sources, there is a possibility that PKR’s sole winner Datuk Jamawi Jaafar in Melalap and Parti KDM’s Datuk Rusdin Riman in Paginatan are among those considered for the 18 state assistant minister positions.
Sabah Barisan Nasional led by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has not indicated if its six assemblymen want to align with the new GRS coalition government, with some party sources saying they would prefer to remain in the opposition.
GRS won 29 (Gagasan Rakyat 23; PBS six) of the 55 seats it contested while its electoral partner Pakatan won only one of the 12 seats it contested.
All eight of Pakatan’s Sabah DAP candidates lost.
Opposition Parti Warisan under Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal won 25 of the 73 seats it contested, with Sabah STAR taking two of 46 seats it contested. Parti KDM had contested in 40 seats.
Perikatan Nasional’s Sabah PAS won Karambunai, its first seat in Sabah.
Meanwhile, the lone Chinese state assemblyman in GRS, Datuk Ben Chong Chen Bin who won in Tanjong Kapor, could be included in Hajiji’s new Cabinet.
Sources said Chong, 47, a former Warisan leader, could be appointed either Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister or to the Tourism, Culture and Environment post.
But Chong’s party seniority is an issue as these are full state minister positions, said a source.
“Chong is just the GRS Tanjong Kapor division chief. But he still could be given a state minister post to make the new Cabinet look more inclusive,” said the source.
