27 sworn in as political secretaries to CM

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The newly appointed political secretaries pose for the album with Abang Johari (seated centre).

KUCHING: A total of 27 people were sworn in as political  secretaries to the chief minister before the Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.

Leading the swearing-in ceremony were Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy secretary-general Abu Seman Jahwie and John David Nyauh, also from PBB, who were reappointed.

Others re-appointed from PBB were Victor Temenggung Angang, Kenil Jaraie, Romeo Christopher Tegong, Maurice Joannes Giri, Fridah Osman, Petrus Igat Mathias, Buang Bolhassan, Richard Rapu, Sharkawi Suhaili, Julani Mokhtar, Charles Balan Seling, Michael Mujah Lihan and Cr Tapah Ata.

Teng Ung Woo, Daniel Bujal, Tan Kai, Michael Tiang and Soo Li Ching from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) were also re-appointed as political secretaries to the chief minister.

From Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), Dato Sri Doris Sophia Brodie, Nicholas Kudi Jantai and Edwin Banta were reappointed while Alexander Asing Sadai from Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) was also reappointed.

Yesterday also saw three new faces being appointed as political  secretaries to the chief minister. They were Charles Chad Nissom and Beatrice Kedoh Tajang from PRS and Abdul Samat Gany from PBB.

The appointment of the 27 political secretaries will be for a period of one year from July 1 this year to June 30, 2018.

Present at the ceremony were deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Public Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, assistant ministers and other dignitaries.

Meanwhile, when contacted yesterday, Masing, who is PRS president, said the new political secretaries from his party would replace Edward Kurik and Angelina Umis Tujok who had retired.

With the new appointments, both wings of PRS are recognised and empowered which in turn will strengthen the party, he told The Borneo Post.

Both the two new faces are from minority ethnic groups – the Bidayuh and the Orang Ulu, he added.

Charles Chad Nissom, 36, said he is proud and honoured to be appointed as political secretary which will give him an opportunity to learn more about politics in Sarawak.

“I am thankful to PRS and in particular the party president for putting me up to the post and I look forward to cooperate with other political secretaries and the ADUNs (assemblypersons) in pursuing the development objective of the state government,” he said.

Charles has a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management degree from Otago University in New Zealand and has been working in the IT field for more than 10 years.

He is a member of PRS Tasik Biru branch and an appointed member of PRS Youth Central Committee.