KOTA KINABALU: Sabah rights legal activist Datuk Roger Chin is among six nominated assemblymen appointed by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu here on Tuesday (Dec 2).
Liberal Democratic Party secretary Datuk Chin Su Ying and Kota Kinabalu PKR division chief Grace Li Mei were two other members of the Chinese community nominated as assemblymen, with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor seen broadening the community’s presence in the state government.
Also appointed is Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah secretary-general Datuk Razali Razi @ Bob, who lost his bid for the Darau state seat in Saturday's (Nov 29) state election.
The other two appointed lawmakers are Moyog Gagasan Rakyat division chief Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun and the party's Sulaman division deputy chief Datuk Abdul Kassim Razali.
Both were senior political aides to Hajiji in the Chief Minister’s Office previously.
The Sabah Constitution provides for six nominated assemblymen to be appointed.
They enjoy similar powers as the 73 elected representatives, including voting on a motion of confidence for the government in the 79-member assembly.
Following the election, Hajiji now has the support of 44 lawmakers (29 from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, one from Sabah Pakatan Harapan, three from Upko, six from Barisan Nasional, and five Independents).
The six nominated assemblymen will now put the GRS coalition government in a comfortable position with 50 members in the assembly.
In the opposition are Warisan with 25 seats, Sabah STAR with three seats, and Parti KDM with one.
