Hajiji further strengthens GRS govt
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has appointed more leaders from other parties to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)led administration to further strengthen his government.
On Wednesday, the GRS chairman made Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili as chairman of the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECOS) and Kapayan assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang as chairman of the Rural Development Corporation, or Korporasi Pembangunan Desa (KPD).
Ongkili who failed to defend the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15) and Lasimbang received their appointment letters from Hajiji at the latter’s office in Menara Kinabalu here.
The appointment of Lasimbang from DAP which is coalition member of Pakatan Harapan, took effect from Jan 19.
Lasimbang, a two-term Sabah DAP assemblyman, was among seven Sabah Pakatan assemblymen who backed GRS during last month’s political turmoil.
She replaced Datuk Raimie Unggi, a Sabah Barisan NasionalUmno nominated assemblyman who was among those who supported the party’s move to sever ties with GRS on Jan 6 which triggered the political crisis.
Deputy Chief Minister I, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who is also the Agriculture, Fishery and Food Industry Minister, Sabah Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Phoong Jin Zhe and State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong were present to witness Hajiji present the appointment letter to Lasimbang.
Phoong, the Luyang assemblyman, is also from Sabah DAP.
On Monday, Hajiji appointed former foreign minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman as his special advisor on international relations and foreign investment.
Anifah is the president of Parti Cinta Sabah which has applied to join GRS.
Besides Lasimbang and Phoong, Sabah DAP chairman and Tanjong Papat assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon was named as the chairman of Sabah Development Berhad (SDB) earlier last month while DAP Likas assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt was appointed as the Sabah Assistant Finance Minister.
Sabah Pakatan chief and former state PKR head Datuk Christina Liew was also appointed as the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister in the Cabinet reshuffle while her PKR colleague and Inanam representative Peto Galim was named as the Agriculture and Fisheries Assistant Minister in Hajiji’s state Cabinet.
Ongkili thanked Hajiji for the appointment which he said was an honour for PBS.
“I will seek to serve ECOS and the energy industry of Sabah to the best of my ability,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Ongkili pointed out that Sabah has enormous strengths and potential in energy resources especially in green renewable sources such as solar, hydro, wind and biomass.
“We will ensure that any issues related to ECOS will be executed for the good of Sabah and Sabahans,” he added.
Ongkili has vast experience as a four-term federal minister, including as the energy, green technology and water minister.
He was also a six-term MP from 1995 before he lost the Kota Marudu seat to Parti KDM candidate and deputy president Datuk Wetrom Bahanda in GE15 last November.