KOTA KINABALU, May 16 — Six names from Parti Warisan Sabah have been submitted for consideration for ministerial posts in the federal Cabinet in the hopes of a sizeable representation from Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
Among the names submitted were Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking, Silam MP Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi and Batu Sapi MP Datuk VK Liew.
“We took some time to look into the possible names and we have a lot of qualified and experienced people who can contribute to running the country,” he said.
Shafie also mentioned Kalabakan and Papar MPs, Ma’mun Sulaiman and Ahmad Hassan respectively, as among the names he had submitted.
Leiking is a second-term MP with his own law firm, while Ketapi is a former assistant minister during the PBS reign in Sabah and a former two-term state assemblyman in Lahad Datu.
VK Liew is also a lawyer and a former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department from 2008 to 2013.
“We have submitted the names and we are hoping that some will be made full ministers. I have also asked our partners, PKR and DAP to submit the names of MPs who they think will be good representatives for Sabah.
“I will be going to KL shortly after this to give further explanation on the names we have submitted. But it is the prerogative of the prime minister to select who he feels is best, but I think there should be good representation from Sabah who has been alongside Pakatan Harapan and helping them,” he said.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced three Cabinet ministers on Saturday and is expected to announce the remaining Cabinet members tomorrow.
Earlier, Shafie’s new state Cabinet was sworn-in by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin. His Cabinet line-up includes three deputy chief ministers, including one woman. He also introduced three new portfolios: Education and Innovation Ministry, Law and Native Affairs Ministry and Health and Public Wellbeing Ministry.
