KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai’s appointment as Deputy Chief Minister for the Chinese quota means he represents that community.
While Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is honoured by the appointment, party president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said it was important to remember that Yee was appointed to look after the Chinese community and not the party.
Pairin who is also Deputy Chief Minister for the non-Muslim Bumiputera quota, added that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman’s decision was not done at the spur of the moment.
When asked to comment on Yee’s appointment, he said, “In the first place there is no need for me to comment because it is the privilege of the Chief Minister to appoint whom he wants and this has been so all along.
“Of course when things change, he takes into account the changes and he looks around he has chosen Datuk Dr Yee. Coming from PBS, we are of course very happy but we are always reminded that he is not just representing PBS . He is representing the community and that is the most important thing to look at,” he told reporters after officiating an ICT course organised by PBS Youth here yesterday.
According to Pairin, the issue should no longer arise as Musa had considered everything before making the decision.
“I think it should be settled as such. I am looking at Dr Yee as Deputy Chief Minister not for PBS but for the Chinese community, for the rakyat, for Sabah. That is settled based on principle and the consideration based on proper steps taken.
“The final decision has been made and because it is not an issue which was just resolved within a short period of time. The matter should be settled and we should all give the guy a chance so that he will work for the rakyat and that is what we want,” he stressed.
Meanwhile when asked to comment on Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk VK Liew’s opinion that it was politically illogical for PBS to have two Deputy Chief Minister posts, Pairin said that the logical or illogical consideration must be based on what is required under the circumstances.
“I mean if you want to look at it from a logical point of view, people who have not stood in an election should therefore not be appointed as senators or even as ministers. Not even campaigning, not even in the party can be senators, made ministers … there is no logic.
“If you are talking about logic, it is up to those given the authority to consider the overall situation and I think that is where it ends and we should be happy to look at it from that point of view so that we can continue to do our part,” he stressed.
Pairin added that once a decision is made by people who are in the right authority, then everyone should continue what they are supposed to do and not continue harping on the issue.
PBS Youth chief Datuk Jahid Jahim, who was also present, agreed that Yee’s appointment was one of the Chief Minister’s prerogatives after taking into consideration all the surrounding circumstances.
“The Chief Minister’s prerogative should not be questioned by anyone because it was made after looking at the overall state’s development through a bigger picture,” he said.
Jahid who is also Assistant Youth and Sports Minister, said he believed Musa came to the decision that the party’s deputy president was the most suitable candidate after much consideration and careful thought.
“Datuk Dr Yee had also won in a Chinese majority area which is why he was given the trust to look after the interest of the community,” the Tamparuli assemblyman added.