Abang Johari announces new Sarawak cabinet line-up

Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg today announced the new lineup for the Sarawak state cabinet, the first after he assumed office last January.

Abang Johari named Bukit Sari Assemblyman Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan as his new deputy, to bring the number to three Deputy Chief Ministers.

The other two Deputy Chief Ministers are Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Abang Johari was speaking to media after officiating the Parti Pesaka Bumputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) 2017 Convention at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), here today.

He also announced the appointment of two new ministers - Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who has been promoted as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports and Datuk Talip Zulpilip who has been promoted to Minister in the Chief Minister's Office.

New faces in his lineup include the former chief political secretary to the Chief Minister, Abdullah Saidol, who is now the Assistant Minister in charge of Corporate Affairs, and Balai RIngin state assemblyman and Parti Rakyat Sarawak's Youth chief Snowdan Lawan, who is now the Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports.

He also renamed the Ministry of Finance as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning; and the Ministry of Urban Development as the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources, which he both led.

Abang Johari also renamed the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture as the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development which is under Uggah.

Meanwhile Abang Johari appointed former second finance minister Datuk Seri Dr Wong Soon Koh to head the Ministry of international Trade and E-commerce, while former Youth, Sports and Solidarity Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin is now the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research.

Masing are three other ministers, Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi, Prof Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, and Datuk Fatimah Abdullah remained in their respective ministries.

Commenting on his appointment, Awang Tengah said he did not expected and neither was he aware of it.

"It is a new responsibility, and I will do my best," he said when met after the announcement.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Saidol said his portfolio was not a new thing to him as he came from a corporate world before joining politics in 2011 and hoped to do his best.

Both thanked Abang Johari for his trust in them.

Awang Tengah, who is in charge of the Ministry of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, Trade and Investment as well as the Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment, and the two new ministers are expected to be sworn in at the Astana tomorrow.