The newly appointed political secretaries taking their oaths in front of Shafie and the other ministers.
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal has urged the newly appointed political secretaries of the state to be loyal and hardworking to their respective ministers and the State Government.
In giving his speech at the oath-taking ceremony today, Shafie stressed that political secretaries had been entrusted with huge responsibilities that must be duly carried out.
Shafie said the word ‘setiausaha’ (secretary) essentially combines the word ‘setia’ (loyal) with ‘usaha’ (hardwork).
Shafie, who kick started his career as a political secretary himself, said he knew very well that the tasks designated for that post is not a walk in the park.
He reckoned that political secretaries should not equate their post with luxury or pride; instead, they must work hard.
“The image presented by these political secretaries will reflect their bosses. If we do something that is not so good, then it would tarnish our bosses’ names.
“When the bosses’ names are tarnished, the governance of that ministry will also be tarnished. Therefore, we must make sure that these duties will be carried out accordingly,” Shafie said.
Since the new State Government is comprised of Warisan, PKR, DAP and UPKO, Shafie said that political secretaries should keep an eye on the affairs of all these political parties instead of just focusing on their respective bosses’ political parties.
He added that political secretaries should serve as a ‘bridge’ that connects the ministers and State Government with the people, especially those who might have trouble in reaching the ministers.
In view of this, Shafie said that political secretaries must be present on the ground, giving equal care to the people without favouring anyone.
There were nineteen political secretaries who took their respective oaths, witnessed by Shafie and other state cabinet ministers at the Sabah State Administrative Centre (PPNS).
Shafie (seated middle) with the newly appointed political secretaries and the other state ministers.
Among them were Datuk Mohd Hisham Abd Fattah (Chief Political Secretary for the Chief Minister’s Department) and Political Secretaries to the Chief Minister – Pg Roslan Pg Nasrun, Chak Wah Cheun, Adzhar Jasni @ Eddy, and Paul Kerangkas.
Others include Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas (Political Secretary to the Finance Minister), Albert Gulabok @ Albert Alex Bingkasan (Political Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister cum Trade and Industry Minister), Joisun Romut (Political Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister cum Trade and Industry Minister), Raymond Ahuar (Political Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister), Lee Mee Peng (Political Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister cum Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister), Zulkiflee @ Laurcal Allani (Political Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister cum Local Government and Housing Minister) and Ali Jainal K K Otto (Political Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister cum Local Government and Housing Minister).
The other seven are Jatil Junggok (Political Secretary to the Infrastructure Development Minister), Phoong Jin Zhe (Political Secretary to the Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister), Utuh @ Rakam Sijim (Political Secretary to the Agriculture and Food Industry Minister), Rapahi Edris (Political Secretary to the Education and Innovation Minister), Carlyle Lajimin (Political Secretary to the Rural Development Minister), Faizal Julaili (Political Secretary to the Law and Native Affairs Minister), Liau Fui Fui (Political Secretary to the Youth and Sports Minister.