Sikmading's Sabah, Malaysian Borneo: The New Sabah Cabinet

Psalm of the Day - Evening Prayer for Help

Answer Me When I pray, O God, my defender! When I was in trouble, you helped me. Be kind to me now and hear my prayer. How long will you people insult me? How long will you love what is worthless and go after what is false? Remember that the Lord has chosen the righteous for his own, and he hears me when I call to him. Tremble with fear and stop sinning; think deeply about this, when you lie in silence on your beds. Offer the right sacrifices to the Lord, and put your trust in him. There are many who pray: "Give me more blessings, O Lord. Look on us with kindness!" But the joy that you have given me is more than they will ever have with all their grain and wine. When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace; you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.

- Psalm 4, Book One taken from the Good News Bible, Today's English Version.

Friday, March 14, 2008

The New Sabah Cabinet

After days of speculations since last Saturday's election results, the composition of the new Sabah State Cabinet was finally revealed today. The ten Ministers were sworn-in before Sabah Yang Di-Pertua Negeri (Head of State) at the Istana in Kota Kinabalu at 3pm. Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman (Assemblyan for Sungai Sibuga) took his oath-of-office last Sunday.

All eyes were of course on who were dropped and who are the new faces. There are only two new faces - Klias Assemblywoman Datuk Azizah Dun and Karamunting Assemblyman Peter Pang. The former replaces Pantai Manis Assemblyman and former Agriculture Minister Datuk Rahim Ismail of UMNO while the latter replaces former Merotai Assemblyman and Youth & Sports Minister Datuk Liew Yun Fah of LDP.

Leading the swearing-in today were the three Deputy Chief Ministers - Datuk Joseph Pairin (Tambunan) of PBS, Datuk Yahya Hussin (Petagas) of UMNO and Datuk Raymond Tan (Tanjong Papat) of SAPP.

Other Ministers retained were UMNO's Datuk Hajiji Noor (Sulaman), Datuk Masidi Manjun (Karanaan) and Datuk Nasir Sakaran (Senallang); PBS's Datuk Dr Yee Moi Chai (Api-Api); and UPKO's Datuk Ewon Ebin (Paginatan).

There were four new faces among the 14 Assistant Ministers sworn-in. They were UMNO's Datuk Sairin Karno (Liawan) and Datuk Musbah Jamli (Tempasuk); UPKO's Donald Mojuntin (Moyog); and PBS' Datuk Michael Asang (Labuk).

The Assistant Ministers retained were UMNO's Zainab Ahmad (Karambunai), Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur (Lahad Datu), Japlin Akim (Usukan) and Thaufick Titingan (Apas); PBS' Datuk Radin Maleh (Melalap), Edward Yong (Tanjung Aru) and Jahid Jahim (Tamparuli); MCA's Edward Khoo (Kepayan); SAPP's Melanie Chia (Luyang); and UPKO's Bobby Suan (Nabawan).