Sabah to work on health, education devolution
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is bracing for health and education power devolution from the federal with the setting up of two new ministries, said Health and People's Well-being Minister Stephen Wong Tien Fatt.
Wong said there are several things that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had asked him to focus on in the ministry but an important task is to focus on establishing the right mechanism in anticipation of the cutting of the federal umbilical cord.
"Because we have been promised by the Pakatan Harapan as a whole that when they take over the federal (government), health and also education will be handed over to Sabah," explained the DAP Sabah chairman and Sandakan MP here yesterday.
"That is why I think my important task, apart from looking over the routine ministerial duties, is that I have to work out the mechanism. How the management of health matters can be worked out when it is handed down to Sabah's jurisdiction," he added.
Wong, who attended the first full cabinet meeting at the Sabah State Administrative Centre here yesterday, said among the things discussed were the establishment of a clean Sabah government, prudence in spending and the do's and don'ts.
He expects to clock in for work today at his new office at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephen here.