KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor chaired the first state “unity Cabinet” meeting, pledging to close ranks to drive Sabah’s prosperity and progress in its new five-year mandate.
"We are well-equipped to deliver on this, leveraging the robust development and progress carried out in the last five years. We are ready to roll out our holistic, inclusive and comprehensive Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 development plan in 2026,” he said after chairing the meeting at Menara Kinabalu here Wednesday (Dec 3), following last weekend’s state election.
Hajiji stressed the need to strengthen the state government to ensure sustained political stability and uninterrupted progress.
He said the success of the past five years of dedicated efforts to establish stability and foster a conducive environment for development.
"With this new administration, my Cabinet members and I will reinforce our commitment to maintaining stability and championing a political agenda centred on unity and development," he said in a statement.
“I am Chief Minister for all, serving all Sabahans fairly, without prejudice to their background, race, or religion,” Hajiji said.
On Monday, Hajiji, the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, named his 11-member Cabinet that included Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick as Deputy Chief Minister III and Sabah Umno secretary Datuk Jafry Arifin as Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Pakatan Harapan’s Datuk Jamawi Jaafar as Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister. The Chief Minister also disclosed the portfolios of the 17 assistant ministers who were sworn in on Tuesday, comprising GRS assemblymen, independents and Sabah STAR representatives.
Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan had said that his party was not formally joining the unity government and the appointment of the party’s Bingkor assemblyman as an assistant minister was on Hajiji’s personal invitation.
Hajiji named Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (GRS), Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (GRS) and Datuk Mandela Malakun (GRS) as assistant ministers in the Chief Minister’s Department
Under the Works and Utility Ministry, the assistant ministers are Datuk Limus Jury (GRS) and Datuk Seri Ruddy Awah (GRS), while the Assistant Finance Ministers are Datuk Ben Chong (GRS) and Datuk Ishak Ayub (STAR).
Datuk Jonnybone Kurum (GRS) is Assistant Industrial, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, while two independent assemblymen Datuk Fairuz Renddan and Datuk Maijol Mahap were made assistant ministers for the Local Government and Housing Ministry.
Datuk Haji Ruslan Muharam and Datuk Hendrus Anding were appointed to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Ministry while Datuk Samad Jambri and Datuk Juil Nuatim to the Rural Development Rural Development Ministry. GRS’s Dr Andi Rizal was appointed to the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry. All five are GRS members.
Independents Jordan Jude Ellron and Datuk Rina Jainal went to the Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry and Women, Health and People’s Well-being Ministry, respectively. There are a total 18 assistant minister positions and one vacant currently.
