KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has hoped that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could appoint more deputy ministers from Sabah, so as to boost Sabah’s representation at the Federal level, and to better enhance cooperation between federal and Sabah government in various sectors.
Its President, Tan Sri T.C Goh said a vast majority of Sabah people were disappointed that, out of the 28 ministers in the ‘unity government’ Cabinet, there were only two Sabahan policymakers in it. He thus hoped that the Prime Minister could rectify this when he appoints the deputy ministers line-up, after this, by boosting Sabah’s representation.
While he welcomed the appointments of five Saerawakian policymakers to the federal cabinet, including one Deputy Prime Minister, he opined that Sabah’s representation in the Federal Cabinet should be further elevated.
In a statement issued today, 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, in the previous federal cabinet, there were two ministers and four deputy ministers from Sabah. However, this time around, only two Sabah policymakers namely, Datuk Ewon Benedick (Penampang MP) and Datuk Armizan Ali (Papar MP) have been appointed as full ministers in the new Federal Cabinet. Ewon has been appointed as the Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Minister, while Armizan who formerly served as the Senior Private Secretary to the Chief Minister is appointed the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (In charge of Sabah and Sarawak affairs).
Goh also congratulated Ewon and Armizan on their appointment, besides expressing confidence that they are capable of assisting the Prime Minister to better develop the nation, Sabah in particular.
Goh continued that, besides the full ministers, it is also hoped that some qualified Sabah policymakers will be appointed as deputy ministers, in order to boost Sabah’s representation at federal level.
While acknowledging that, appointment of full and deputy ministers is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, and it should be respected by the people, he nonetheless reiterated that, it is crucial to ensure that east Malaysia, Sabah included, are well represented at the Federal level, so as to better understand and attend to the plights and needs of the state and its people.-pr/BNN
