Fadillah the right person to oversee Sabah and Sarawak affairs, says minister

KUCHING: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof is the right person to take charge of Bornean state affairs, says a Sarawak minister.

State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said discussions with the Federal Government on restoring Sarawak's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 were mostly chaired by Fadillah.

"It's only proper that he looks after Sabah and Sarawak," he told reporters on Wednesday (Dec 13).

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Fadillah, who is Gabungan Parti Sarawak chief whip, was given the responsibility of handling Sabah and Sarawak matters after the ministerial portfolio was done away with in the Cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday (Dec 12).

Before this, the responsibility was given to Datuk Mohd Armizan Ali, who was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs as well as Special Functions.

Abdul Karim also welcomed Fadillah's appointment to helm the new Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry.

"The Prime Minister probably sees that Sarawak is leading the way in renewable energy, so he appointed Fadillah to this new portfolio," he said.

In addition, he said all Sarawak ministers and deputy ministers were retained in the reshuffle with some portfolio changes.

"This shows that they have carried out their responsibilities well," he said.

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Besides Fadillah, Cabinet ministers from Sarawak are Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (Works), Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Women, Family and Community Development), Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Tourism, Arts and Culture) and Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang (National Unity).

The deputy ministers who retained their portfolios are Datuk Rubiah Wang (Rural and Regional Development), Datuk Hasbi Habibollah (Transport), Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib (Economy) and Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Health).

There was a change of portfolio for Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii and Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, who are now deputy ministers in the new Natural Resources and Sustainability Ministry and Digital Ministry respectively.