Ik Pahon (second left) hands over some notes to Hii in a symbolic handing-over of duties while Abdul Karim (right) and Lee look on. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports welcomed its new Permanent Secretary Hii Chang Kee yesterday replacing Datu Ik Pahon Joyik who has been appointed new permanent secretary to the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was present to witness the hand-over of duties between the two senior government officers at Baitulmakmur Building here.
Hii, formerly Sibu Resident prior to his transfer, said he was looking forward to take on the challenges in his new role.
“There is a wide gap between the role of a Resident and a Permanent Secretary especially when the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports is a merger of two ministries, which has five functions.
“Nevertheless, I will take it as a challenge because challenges are normal in life. As long as we have the will and teamwork from everyone involved, challenges can be overcome.”
Prior to the handover of duties, Abdul Karim called on heads of departments in his ministry as well as those in government agencies to give their full cooperation to Hii.
“He is a very capable person and should be able to do what Datu Ik Pahon has been doing all these years. It will take a bit of time for him to settle down because being a Resident and Permanent Secretary are two very different things. He will need to study and try to digest all the information about the ministry,” he said.
On Ik Pahon, Abdul Karim described him as ‘one of the best and most senior permanent secretaries’ in the state government.
“I believe that is one of the reasons Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah wants him to be in his ministry is to handle issues particularly on NCR matters.
“He (Uggah) needs a really capable right-hand person and I believe Datu Ik Pahon will be able to handle the tasks given to him (in the new ministry).”
Meanwhile, Ik Pahon said the past eight years in the old ministry had been an enlightening experience.
“I will continue to share all my experiences wherever I am. We should not be selfish with our ideas, information and experience because at the end of the day, the good name of the state comes from every ministry.”
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin was also present at the event.