PBS Hails Appointment Of Sabahans To Head Sabah Info, Broadcasting Depts

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) on Wednesday hailed the recent appointment of Sabahans to head the State Information Department and State Broadcasting Department (RTM Sabah).

PBS Secretary-General Datuk Henrynus Amin said the move was timely and appropriate and was a clear manifestation of the Information Communication and Culture Ministry's sincerity in realising the aspirations of the Borneonisation of the federal public service in Sabah.

"This new development augurs well for Sabah in terms of placing Sabahans in senior positions in federal departments and agencies in the state.

"The Information Communication and Culture Ministry's move is in the right direction and PBS hopes to see more Sabahans head federal departments and agencies in the state, including the State Customs Department, soon to prevent this issue from being politicised by the opposition in the next general election," he said in a statement.

Henrynus said it was also in line with the agreement or social contract contained in the Malaysia Agreement of 1963.

Almain Ajirul was appointed director of the Sabah Information Department effective Jan 1 this year and Ali Ngasio as acting director of RTM Sabah effective Nov 1 last year.

Henrynus said that with the appointments of Almain and Ali, the State Information Department, the Sabah Broadcasting Department, the Department of Special Affairs (JASA) and the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) bureau in Sabah were all headed by Sabahans.

He called on other federal ministries and agencies to emulate the example.