UMNO does not recognise the appointment of two of its members to Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s cabinet, Bung Moktar Radin said today.

The Sabah Umno chairman said the members who have accepted the positions are perceived as having turned their backs on the party. 

“Hajiji Noor cannot say that these people represent Umno in his cabinet,” he said in a statement. 

He said the changes to the state cabinet are not representative of the unity government envisaged by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Bung Moktar who is the Lamag assemblyman, was responding the new Sabah cabinet line-up.

Umno’s Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat) was appointed deputy chief minister III and the state’s public works minister while James Ratib (Sugut) was made community development and Sabah people’s wellbeing minister.

Bung was the deputy chief minister and Sabah works minister before he was dropped.

Two other Umno lawmakers – Yakub Khan (Karambunai) and Jafry Ariffin (Sukau) – were also booted.

Api-Api assemblyman Liew was deputy chief minister in the previous Parti Warisan Sabah government. She returns to the state cabinet as tourism, culture and environment minister.

Sabah DAP secretary Phoon Jin Zhe, who is the Luyang assemblyman, was the state youth and sports minister in the Shafie Apdal-led administration. He will assume the industry development portfolio.

James Ratib, who was an assistant minister in the Hajiji administration, was promoted to full minister. 

Bung said he will be taking the two Umno members of the Sabah cabinet to the party’s disciplinary board.

“We will discuss further action with Umno president  Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to take any further action.”

Bung said Hajiji’s move was not in line with the prime minister’s wish for a unity government

“The chief minister seems to be turning his back on the PM’s wishes to establish a unity government in Sabah.

Bung also urged Hajiji to be fair and not interfere with the administration of the state’s ministries.

“Don’t just seek profits and ignore the people. Make changes for the good of Sabah and the people. 

“Sabah Umno is ready to be the opposition and we will play an effective role.” – January 11, 2023.