KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) hoped the six full and deputy federal ministers from Sabah could strive to help accelerate Sabah’s development.
Its President Tan Sri T.C Goh expressed this in a statement issued today, while congratulating them for being sworn in to their respective portfolios, at Istana Negara on Monday.
Besides this, he also hoped the Federal government could further increase Sabah’s representation in the Cabinet, citing that the appointment of the two full ministers and four deputy ministers from Sabah constitutes only 8.57% of the 70-member Cabinet, and it is not proportional.
He then welcomed the reappointment of Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, as Minister in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs, which was in line with the expectation of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) and FCAS. He believed this would allow Dr Maximus to continue to pursue all matters pertaining to state rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Goh who is also a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) and President of the Federation of Sabah and Labuan Hokkien Associations (FSLHA) noted that, the other Sabahan who was reappointed is Datuk Ronald Kiandee who had retained the minister of agriculture and food industries post.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob also appointed four deputy ministers from Sabah including first-timers Sipitang MP Yamani Hafez Musa who was appointed deputy finance minister II and Kimanis MP Datuk Mohamad Alamin as deputy education minister II; Ranau MP Jonathan Yassin retained the deputy home minister II position while Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup was switched to deputy works minister II.
Goh believes the six of them could play a significant role in propelling development of Sabah in various sectors.
He cited for example, Kurup could get the federal government to accelerate the completion of the Pan Borneo Highways project, which is long overdue, besides facilitating and ensuring a speedy and smooth implementation of various infrastructure development projects under the 12 Malaysia Plan, which will be implemented soon.
“The people of Sabah are also placing a high hope in Datuk Mohamad Alamin as deputy education minister II, especially on the upgrading of education infrastructure in the rural areas, in order to better facilitate the much-needed online learning amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
He also concurred with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor for describing the newly-formed Cabinet as an “action-oriented” team that is well capable of handling the many challenges posed by the pandemic. -pr/BNN
