Pairin Among Five New Faces, Lajim And Kurup Dropped
Saturday, 27 March 2004 (Source: Bernama)

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman Saturday unveiled the state cabinet line-up which he dubbed as "the working cabinet" that saw former Chief Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan making a comeback after 10 years.

Pairin, 64, who is Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) President, was appointed Deputy Chief Minister representing the Kadazandusun community. The Tambunan Assemblyman also holds the rural development portfolio.

Musa believed that he had in the line-up a strong team with vast experience and able to push forward the state's agenda for development.

"I believe that under this cabinet, Sabah will progress to fulfil the huge mandate the people gave the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the election," he told a news conference after the swearing-in of the cabinet and assistant ministers.

Another former Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat who held the post from March 2001 under the state's rotation system, was retained in the cabinet and made a Deputy Chief Minister.

Chong, 55, who is Tanjong Kapor assemblyman and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President is Deputy Chief Minister representing the Chinese community.

He also retained his Tourism, Culture and Environment portfolio he held in the last cabinet.

Asked about the fact that he had two former chief ministers in his cabinet, Musa said: "I am very lucky to have them... they have vast experience and certainly will help in the development of the state".

Two members of the previous cabinet were dropped -- Datuk Lajim Ukin who was Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in the Chief Minister's Department and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) President Tan Sri Joseph Kurup who was Youth and Sports Minister.

Musa said that the two had agreed to assume other responsibilities.

Lajim is appointed Inspector of Projects while Kurup is Chairman of the Sabah Land Development Corporation (SLDC).