SABAH Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew today rubbished claims by an activist that the state government had breached the Sabah constitution by forming more than 10 ministries. 

“If it is unconstitutional, let the state attorney-general study it. I believe it is constitutional. 

“I believe Chief Minister (Shafie Apdal) knew very well what he was doing when he created the ministries,” she said today. 

A news portal had yesterday reported that Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) activist Zainnal Ajamain had said that the state government may be in breach of the state constitution by creating 11 ministries. 

He cited Article 6(2) of the constitution, which stated that the Sabah government cabinet shall consist of a chief minister and not more than 10, or fewer than four ministers. 

Sabah has 11 ministries, with the ministers being appointed on May 16 last year.

Shafie had created the new Education and Innovation Ministry to replace the Resource Development and Information Technology Ministry, while the Community Development and Consumer Affairs Ministry was replaced with the Health and People’s Well-being Ministry. 

Only the Law and Native Affairs Ministry was announced amid discussions with Putrajaya on the MA63.

“I think this means the Sabah constitution has been changed without going through the proper channel,” Zainnal had said.  

“They can name any ministry any way they like. I am sure they have their own reasons. However, they cannot change the constitution.

“They have been using the slogan ‘change’. It seems that they forgot to ‘change’ this one. 

“If they said the new ministry is there to help implement the MA63, that, too, is false because the minister is not even part of the federal cabinet steering committee for the MA63,” Zainnal had reportedly said. – January 21, 2019.