KOTA KINABALU: Sabah PKR and DAP have submitted their lists of names for the state Cabinet line-up, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Sabah PKR chief and Tawau Member of Parliament Christina Liew said the party had discussed the proposed names for the positions of minister and assistant minister with Shafie.
“However, we know it is the prerogative of the chief minister to appoint his cabinet line-up. The Sabah state government is a Warisan-PKR-DAP-Upko government now,” she said when contacted.
Sabah PKR won two state seats in the general election, with Liew defending her Api-Api seat and PKR Penampang division head Kenny Chua winning the Inanam seat.
Meanwhile, Sabah DAP chairman and Sandakan Member of Parliament Stephen Wong said that they had “a very informal” talk with the chief minister, adding that nothing is official yet.
“We had some talks. At present, nobody knows (the cabinet line-up) but the chief minister.
“We’ve already (forwarded DAP’s proposed names). We’ll wait until the chief minister makes a review,” he said.
Sabah DAP won six state seats in the general election, with Jannie Lasimbang being the party’s only assemblywoman after winning the Kapayan state seat.
When asked whether Jannie is on the list, Wong remained tight-lipped.
In the general election, Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), which has working ties with Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH), and Sabah Barisan Nasional, obtained 29 seats. Two other seats were won by Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku.
Shafie, who is also Warisan president, became the chief minister after six assemblymen from Sabah BN – namely Umno and Upko – pledged their support to a Warisan-PH pact.
Upko acting president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau had met with Shafie to inform him of the party’s intention to help form the state government under Shafie’s leadership.
Yesterday, Shafie said the Cabinet line-up will be announced soon, adding that Upko will have a role in the government.