KOTA KINABALU - Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will appoint a Deputy Chief Minister from the Chinese community if the coalition is re-elected to form the state government, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji, who is also GRS chairman, said this is to acknowledge the significant role and contributions of the Chinese community in Sabah’s progress and development.
"If this government is once again given the mandate, and if many Chinese leaders are elected as state assemblymen, I will appoint one of them as Deputy Chief Minister.
"Without the contributions of all of you (the Chinese community), the state’s economy would not have grown. In fact, the contributions of the Chinese community in Sabah span various fields and sectors,” he said in a statement here today.
Hajiji had attended a dinner with the Chinese community, mission schools, private Chinese schools and non-Muslim religious bodies at the Hakka Hall here last night.
The 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly will automatically dissolve on Nov 11, if it is not dissolved before that date, paving the way for the 17th Sabah state election.
The Sabah government currently has three Deputy Chief Ministers, namely Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
Hajiji said that to strengthen the state administration, he has appointed several expert advisers in the fields of oil and gas, finance, investment and law, most of whom are of Chinese descent.
He said this includes Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah, former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, to head the Sabah Law Reform Advisory Council.
"This council will review outdated laws, propose relevant, fair and people-friendly reforms, and ensure our administration is in line with current needs.
"This is how we improve state governance, ensuring Sabah remains progressive and respected,” he added. - BERNAMA