Sabah and Sarawak issues take precedence - Dr Maximus Ongkili

Issues involving Sabah and Sarawak in the Federation will be the priority of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak), Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.

In a statement this evening, Dr Maximus said the role he had been entrusted with was important in addressing Sabah and Sarawak's issues and finding a solution.

Reacting to his appointment, he said: "On behalf of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), I express gratefulness for the opportunity to serve the country once again as a member of the Federal Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

"We (the PBS) greatly value the appointment and will seek to do my personal best in the new portfolio of overseeing Sabah and Sarawak affairs.

"It is an opportunity to address and resolve the key perennial concerns, grouses and problems faced and expressed by the citizens in Sabah and Sarawak within the ambit of the Malaysian Federation, whether in matters of law, policies, security and overall development."

Earlier, Muhyiddin at a special press conference in Putrajaya announced the list of Cabinet members of the Perikatan Nasional government.

READ: Muhyiddin presents Cabinet line-up, no DPM, 4 senior Ministers

Apart from Maximus, among those appointed were Beluran Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry); Keningau Member of Parliament, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture) and Pensiangan Member of Parliament, Arthur Joseph Kurup (Deputy Minister in the PM's Department).