KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has yet to decide whether the four Umno assistant ministers will be retained in the cabinet.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said he would consider several aspects before deciding on their fate.
"Give me space to think how to administer the state as best as possible. I have to look into all aspects when it comes to matters like this.
"Do not worry, we will take the necessary actions. What is more important is the wellbeing of the state and people," he told a press conference at the second convocation of University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
During the swearing-in of new cabinet ministers on Monday, three Umno assemblymen were dropped from the cabinet line-up. They are Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, his deputy, Datuk Yakub Khan, and secretary Datuk Jafry Ariffin, who were among 13 assemblymen plotting against Hajiji's administration.
The remaining Umno assistant ministers in the cabinet are Tanjung Batu's Datuk Andi Muhamad Suryady Bandy (Youth and Sports); Bengkoka's Datuk Harun Durabi (Rural Development); Sungai Sibuga's Datuk Mohd Hamsan Awg Supain (Local Government and Housing) and Pantai Manis' Mohd Tamin Zainal (Industrial Development).
The 79-member state legislative assembly also has two Umno appointed assemblymen, Suhaimi Nasir and Raimie Unggi, who were in Bung Moktar's camp.
On Bung Moktar's latest statement that "the game was still on" to topple the current government, Hajiji, who is Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman, said: "That's him. It is his story."
Following the amendment to the Umno constitution that stripped the five assemblymen of their membership, Hajiji said it was a party matter and that it was too early to speculate whether GRS would absorb them into the coalition.
The quintet comprised Datuk Shahelmey Yahya Shahelmey, who is Tanjung Keramat assemblyman and also Putatan MP; Datuk James Ratib (Sugut); Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sindumin); Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit); and Datuk Arshad Bistari (Tempasuk).
On the new state cabinet line-up, Hajiji said he had informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and that he had always been in communication with the top leader.
Earlier, Hajiji, who is also UCSF chancellor, said the government would allocate RM10 million to the college for research on Sabah development, courses and training for civil servants and youth, a pilot project for the production of UCSF botanic batik and a course on Sabah development.
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