NEWLY appointed Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Shahelmey Yahya has told critics of Chief Minister Hajiji Noor that the formation of the new state government was in line with the unity government envisaged by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He said the new additions to the government from PKR and DAP were in adherence to Anwar’s wish for a unity government in the state.

“A cabinet reshuffle is one of the formulas for a unity government. We added three new faces – two from Pakatan Harapan and one from Barisan Nasional (BN).

“Of course those from Warisan and the BN group who rebelled against Hajiji, we have decided not to include them,” he was quoted as telling reporters following the swearing in of the three new cabinet members today.

He said the opposition should accept the decision and play its part by being constructive.

Shahelmey was among five Umno assemblymen who backed Hajiji when the party’s state chapter pulled the plug on the chief minister’s leadership of the state.

Shahelmey was appointed deputy chief minister III and the state’s public works minister, while James Ratib (Sugut) was made community development and people’s well-being minister.

Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman Bung Moktar Radin was the deputy chief minister and state works minister before he was dropped from the cabinet.

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

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 earlier said Sabah Umno does not recognise the appointment of the two dissidents – Shahelmy and James – to the cabinet.

He said those who had 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,” Bung said in a statement after the appointments.

He said the changes to the state cabinet are not representative of the unity government envisioned by Anwar.

Bung said he will take the two Umno members of the Sabah cabinet to the party’s disciplinary board. – January 11, 2023.