Abdullah Saidol confident he will fit into new portfolio

KUCHING: One of the two new faces in the latest state cabinet line-up Abdullah Saidol, who is Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs, believes he will have little issue in assuming the portfolio.

Speaking to reporters after the announcement yesterday, he said corporate affairs would not be a whole new arena for him given his past experience.

“I will try my best to assist. It (corporate affairs) will not be something that is a burden to me because I came from a corporate environment. And I entered politics in 2011.

“I will use the experience I had in the past to assist him (Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg). I am yet to understand what the essence of the portfolio is, we will see later on,” he said after Abang Johari announced the cabinet reshuffle at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here yesterday.

Abdullah said he appreciated the trust Abang Johari put in him to look after an entirely new portfolio.

He admitted that he was still taken by surprise as Abang Johari did not drop any hint on him prior to the announcement.

“I am still in shock actually because I don’t have a clue. I was never approached by the chief minister and he never discussed about this possibility. So I only got to know when he announced it.”

Abdullah said he would have to relinquish his posts as chief political secretary to the chief minister and chairman of the State Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC).

I will try my best to assist. It (corporate affairs) will not be something that is a burden to me because I came from a corporate environment. And I entered politics in 2011. — Abdullah Saidol, Assistant Minister of Corporate Affairs

To a question, he said he had no idea who would succeed him as the next chief political secretary to the chief minister.

“As for the new BNBBC chairman, there should be a consensus among the senior leaders before a new one is appointed.

“Then again, I want to thank the chief minister for having the trust in me with this new responsibility. I’ll do my best,” added Abdullah.

(From right) Abang Johari shares a light moment with Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at the dinner. Also seen are (from left) Public Utilities Minister...

Abdullah (right) being congratulated by Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapa’ee. — Photo by Tan Song Wei