BUNG Moktar Radin was sworn in today as one of three deputy chief ministers of Sabah.

The Sabah Umno chief won the Lamag seat in last week’s elections and his appointment is seen as a compromise on his party’s demand for the chief minister’s post, which has gone to Bersatu’s Hajiji Noor.

Bung Moktar took his oath of office after Hajiji was sworn in at 10.30am.

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is deputy chief minister II and Parti Bersatu Sabah Kundasang assemblyman Joachim Gunsalam, deputy chief minister III.

Hajiji’s three deputies have also been assigned ministerial portfolios in the state cabinet. Bung Moktar is in charge of Sabah housing and local government; Kitingan, agriculture and food industries; and Joachim, trade and industry.

Also taking the oath today were deputy Sabah Bersatu chief Masidi Manjun as works minister and PBS secretary-general Jahid Jahim as rural development minister.

In Saturday’s elections, GRS won 38 state seats, the simple majority needed to form the Sabah government.

Rival Warisan took 29 seats and its allies PKR and Upko, two and one, respectively. This gives them a total of 32 seats. 

Three seats went to Independents.

GRS is made up of Perikatan Nasional (17 seats), Barisan Nasional (14) and Parti Bersatu Sabah (7). 

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin launched the GRS pact just before the elections. – September 29, 2020.