Sabah Gets 2 Extra Deputy Ministers

In the new line-up of the post-election Malaysian Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdulah Ahmad Badawi today, Sabah now has a better representation as expected. Sabah maintained its quota of three full Federal Cabinet Ministers but saw its Deputy Ministers increased from two to four. This is the best representation Sabah has ever had in the Federal Government since Independence in 1963.

The 3 Ministers retained were UPKO president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok (picture), PBS deputy president Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili and Sabah UMNO deputy liaison chief Datuk Shafie Abdal.

Dompok, a former Sabah Chief Minister, continues to be Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. Ongkili, who held a similar post prior to the election, is now Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation. Shafie, the former Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, has been transferred to the enlarged Ministry of National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage.

The only Sabahan deputy minister (roughly equivalent to a Sabah Minister) in the former Federal Cabinet retained is Datuk Anifah Aman, brother of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. He has however been moved from the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry to the Ministry of Transport. The other, former Housing & Local Government deputy minister Datuk Hajah Azizah Dun, did not defend her parliamentary seat of Beaufort. She instead contested the State seat of Klias which she won and is now a member of the Sabah Cabinet.

The three new faces from Sabah are PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, LDP president Datuk VK Liew and UMNO MP for Kalabakan, Datuk Ghapur Salleh. Kurup who is a first-time MP after winning Pensiangan uncontested is now Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development. Liew, also a first-timer after wrestling Sandakan back from the Opposition, has been made Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry. Ghapur, a former Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, is now Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

Prior to the election, Sabah also had a Parliamentary Secretary (roughly equivalent to the State's Assistant Minister) in the person of Datuk Shamsu Baharum but he was not chosen to defend his Silam seat. Furthermore, in forming the new Federal Cabinet today the Prime Minister has done away with the post of Parliamentary Secretary. This means that a Federal Minister will only have a Deputy Minister to assist him or her and therefore both of them will have to work harder.


Congratulations to the 7 Sabah MPs appointed to the Federal Government. For those not appointed, be patient, your turn will come.

P/s: For full-list of the new Malaysian ministers and their deputies, click on any of the Malaysian Media on the left, especially The Star.