2 first-time assemblymen among replacements and one of them expected to be sworn-in as deputy State Legislative Assembly speaker
Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail & Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Ghazali
Dr Annuar Rapaee, Dato Gerawat Gala, Datu Dr Penguang Manggil & Malcom Mussen Lamoh
KUCHING: There will be seven new faces among the 19 state elected representatives to be sworn in as assistant ministers today at the State Legislative Assembly Complex.
This was disclosed by a reliable source yesterday.
The seven new faces are:
• Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (Pantai Damai),
• Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Ghazali (Samariang),
• Dr Annuar Rapaee (Nangka),
• Datu Dr Penguang Manggil (Marudi),
• Dato Gerawat Gala (Mulu),
• Malcom Mussen Lamoh (Batang Ai)
• Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (Bukit Kota).
Their appointments are to replace assistant ministers in the previous cabinet who have either retired or did not stand in the last state election.
Those who did not seek re-election due to various reasons were Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, Datuk Gramong Juna and Robert Lawson Chuat, all from PBB.
Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie and Datuk Sylvester Entri Muran from Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), which was dissolved after the election, were not fielded, and they were replaced by Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party candidates Datuk Henry Harry Jinep and Penguang respectively.
The two former assistant ministers who stood and won in the just concluded state election but were not re-appointed are Datuk Mong Dagang (Bukit Begunan) and Datuk Abdul Wahab Aziz (Kalaka).
Mong and Wahab are from PRS and PBB respectively.
The 12 state elected representatives who will be re-appointed assistant ministers are:
• Datuk Naroden Majais (Gedong),
• Datuk John Sikie Tayai (Kakus),
• Datuk Francis Harden (Simanggang),
• Datuk Talib Zulpilip (Jepak),
• Datuk Lee Kim Shin (Senadin),
• Liwan Lagang (Belaga),
• Datuk Len Talif (Kuala Rajang),
• Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong),
• Datuk Julaihi Narawi (Sebuyau),
• Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah(Asajaya),
• Rosey Yunus (Bekenu)
• Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn (Tarat).
Sagah is the former deputy Speaker of DUN, with the same rank as an assistant minister and one of the newcomers is expected to replace him.
The only assistant minister who has been promoted to full minister is Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, who has been promoted as Minister of Public Utilities.
There were 19 assistant ministers in the last cabinet and the number remains the same for this term.
Out of the 19 assistant ministers, PBB took the bulk of it with 10 of its representatives being chosen. Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), like the previous term, takes up three posts while SUPP gets two and SPDP one.
Out of 13 direct BN candidates, three of them are appointed as assistant ministers, and they are Dr Jerip, Rosey and Gerawat.
In terms of racial breakdown, there are eight Malays, four Ibans, two Bidayuhs, two Melanaus, two Orang Ulu and one Chinese.
Previously, there were also 10 from PBB, three from PRS, two from SUPP and one from UPP and three from Teras. And in terms of racial break down there were six Malays, seven Ibans, two Bidayuhs, two Melanaus, one Chinese and one Orang Ulu.