KOTA KINABALU (Jan 26): Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Thursday (Jan 26) announced a reshuffle of Sabah assistant ministers, which saw three assemblymen take their oath before Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at Istana Seri Kinabalu here.

Hajiji said Parti Bersatu Sabah vice president Datuk Ruslan Muharam, who is also the Lumadan assemblyman, had been appointed as an assistant minister to the chief minister.

He added that Inanam assemblyman Peto Gadim from PKR was appointed as the assistant minister of agriculture and fisheries, and Likas assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt from DAP as the assistant minister of finance.

“The appointments were also to fill positions left vacant by Datuk James Ratib, the former assistant minister of agriculture and fisheries, who is now [the state] minister of community development and people's well-being, and Datuk Jasnih Daya, who relinquished his post as the assistant minister of finance.

“Today’s appointments and reshuffle of assistant ministers are a continuing effort to consolidate and strengthen the government administration,” Hajiji said in a statement here.

He said that four assistant ministers also changed portfolios, namely Datuk Seri Dr Ruddy Awah from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as the assistant minister of rural development, Datuk Fairuz Renddan from GRS as the assistant minister of youth and sports, Datuk Harun Durabi from Barisan Nasional (BN) as the assistant minister of science, technology and innovation, and Datuk Andi Suryady Bandy (BN) as the assistant minister of industrial development.

“I would like to stress the importance for the state government, under my leadership, to function as a cohesive team who share the same aspirations, built on mutual trust and respect. We need a strong team to push our development momentum, and to fulfil our election pledges for the people and state,” he said.