No cabinet reshuffle – Shafie
KOTA BELUD: The State Cabinet will not be reshuffled to accommodate former Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders who are joining Parti Warisan Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Shafie, who is Warisan president, said the party had made the decision not to reshuffle the cabinet after holding discussion on various aspects with the leaders involved.
“In forming a government, the agreement is not based on bargaining, but their (the leaders) willingness and sincerity to equally fight for the rights of the people of Sabah.
“They must place greater importance on the people rather than (securing) positions, posts and ranks, although we are aware and know that rank and positions allow them to improve the ability to administer their areas.
“But after having scrutinized and met (the leaders), it is important for us to prioritize on development and progress,” he said during a press conference held in conjunction with the meet-the-people session here yesterday.
During the event, Shafie received from Tempasuk assemblyman Datuk Musbah Jamli, 6,000 forms from former Umno members who applied to join Warisan.
Musbah is among six former Umno assemblymen to have joined Warisan besides Datuk Abdul Muis Picho (Sebatik), Datuk Hamisah Samat (Tanjong Batu), Jamawi Jaafar (Kemabong), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Sukau) and Datuk Osman Jamal (Balung).
Last week, Tandek assemblywoman Datuk Anita Baranting, who is also Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) women chief, also joined Warisan.
Shafie pointed out that Warisan is not accepting those leaders for granted but based on their ability to cooperate in developing the state.
“We cannot simply accept them and offer them posts because we have to deal with certain things. Otherwise, comes election time, these leaders would not bother if are going to win or lose as long as they can join (us) again.
“That’s not the way we’re doing it because we have to be careful with every application before accepting them into our party, aside from placing the importance of discipline,” he said.
“Discipline is important to ensure that the current State government would not end up in the same fate as the previous government which was rejected by the people due to leadership values.
“We are aware and know that the people rejected Umno not because of the party, but because of the leadership values, and the people also wanted institutional changes in the judiciary, policing and incidence of corrupt practices.
“It (the reform) is a step that needs to be done and translated through the aspirations and wishes of the people, otherwise comes the next elections, we would be punished if the people’s wishes are not met,” Shafie said.