Sabah Politics: Cabinet reshuffle after Hajiji meets PM?
08 Jan 2023 03:58pm
Anwar (left) receives a courtesy visit from Hajiji at the Prime Minister's office at Bangunan Perdana Putra, Putrajaya, 27 Nov 2022.
Bernama file pics
The meeting is expected to take place in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah upon Anwar's return from his official visit to Jakarta, Indonesia on Jan 9.
An internal source from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) said that the list of candidates for the new Cabinet of the state government was last Monday.
In fact, the meeting with Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and Hajiji on Saturday afternoon, was to inform the former on the new cabinet line-up.
"In yesterday's meeting, the (GRS) chairman informed about two things, namely on the support of state assembly members and list of the new potential Cabinet members.
"However, the list of the new cabinet will only be announced after the meeting between the Prime Minister and Hajiji, which is expected on Monday night.
"This is because Anwar is currently on a work trip to Indonesia. He will fly back to Kota Kinabalu from Jakarta," he told Astro Awani.
Yesterday, Anwar who is also the Pakatan Harapan chairman announced that he will look into the political situation in Sabah as soon as he returns from his official visit to Jakarta.
He has also been in contact with Hajiji, getting updates on the state's political turmoil until now.
Anwar added that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has already spoken to Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin on the current situation.
The current political situation in Sabah is under control, Anwar assured.
Hajiji, on the other hand, met Tun Juhar at Istana Seri Kinabalu about an hour after he was seen entering the palace grounds at 4.22pm.
On Friday, Hajiji in a brief statement, informed that there will be a reshuffle of the state cabinet which will be announced in the near future.
Sabah politics sparked turmoil after Bung Moktar announced withdrawing support for the state government led by GRS-BN.
The decision of Umno and Sabah BN was made following a loss of confidence in Hajiji's position as chief minister, in addition to the breach of the agreement between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Bung Moktar said BN and PN implemented an agreement to form the Sabah government after the State Election in 2020, however, Hajiji and the Bersatu Sabah leader who is also a PN component, left the party causing the current state government to be invalid.
The Sabah state assembly has 79 assemblymen, 73 of which are elected and six are appointed. - Astro Awani
