Aminah denies unsatisfactory performance as cause for removal as deputy minister

KOTA KINABALU - Former Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Siti Aminah Aching has come forward to refute claims that her removal from Unity Government ministerial line-up was due to unsatisfactory performance but due to a health factor.

The Beaufort MP said she had to take leave after undergoing knee surgery three months ago.

"In the past three months, I took sick leave as I had just completed surgery on both knees, limiting my mobility. However, I could still attend ministry programmes and represent the minister to answer questions in the Dewan Rakyat. It's just that moving around, especially going to areas, is difficult," she said after a meeting with Umno Sabah Chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin on Thursday.

In light of this, she accepted the dismissal with an open heart, considering the action as providing space for Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, who was appointed as Deputy Women, Family, and Community Development Minister.

"I accept this dismissal gracefully. For me, perhaps to give space to Noraini as the Umno Wanita Chief, we need to be in agreement and consider the hierarchy within the party.

"Although I was not informed about the dismissal from this position from the beginning, it is the prerogative of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who appointed, and we need to be professional and open in accepting this situation," she said.

She also expressed appreciation to the Prime Minister and his Deputy, who is also Umno President, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and Bung, for the trust and support they gave her earlier.

"I will continue my duties and responsibilities as a parliamentarian and party member. Now, I will focus more on paying attention to the constituency, especially in the Beaufort Parliament, which was previously limited due to my duties in the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities," she added.

Anwar announced a cabinet reshuffle following a year of Madani government’s administrating the country on Dec 12. Here is the full list of the new cabinet line-up.