Sarawak sees minor revisions to state Cabinet
KUCHING: Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has named Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah the new Second Finance Minister in a minor state Cabinet reshuffle.
Uggah takes over the post from Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, who resigned from the state Cabinet last month due to political differences.
Abang Johari also promoted Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin to head a new state Transport Ministry in the reshuffle.
He also named Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting to take over Lee’s assistant ministerial post.
He said the new line-up reflected the state government’s aim to make Sarawak a developed state by 2030 with emphasis on port development, oil and gas activities, agriculture, urban transport and tourism.
“We have agreed that we must consolidate and implement policies that will drive our economy towards achieving developed status by 2030.
“Our Cabinet has to be reshuffled to be in line with our objectives,” Abang Johari told a press conference here yesterday.
On the new Transport Ministry, he said it would focus on public transport in urban areas. “Public transport is something we have to improve. The traffic system must be well managed, so we need a minister to look into that,” he added.
He also announced minor changes to some portfolios, with International Trade and E-Commerce redesignated as the International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminals and Entrepreneur Development Ministry under Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The Infrastructure Development and Transportation Ministry is now known as Infrastructure and Ports Development, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing.
The Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry has been split into Tourism, Arts and Culture and Youth and Sports. Both are headed by Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Datuk Jaul Samion was named the new Sarawak state secretary, replacing Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani.
Meanwhile, Lee pledged to serve to the best of his ability and to support Abang Johari’s vision to develop transportation in Sarawak.
“I would like to thank the Chief Minister for his trust and confidence in me. I previously served in the Infrastructure Development, Communication and Transportation Ministry for 13 years, so I will use my experience in building up my new ministry,” he said.