Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak disclosed today that a former federal minister who now heads an opposition political party had requested to be appointed as the chief minister of Sabah.

The Prime Minister said the request was to fulfil a personal ambition of that former minister.

"I feel personal ambitions should not override the struggle for the people," he said when speaking at the launch of the Taman Batu Sapi People's Housing Programme here.

Najib did not name anyone but was apparently referring to former rural and regional development minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, the Semporna MP who is president of Parti Warisan Sabah.

The Prime Minister questioned the setting up of political parties based on personal ambitions and said such parties would not survive for long.