Newly-appointed deputy minister Joseph Salang Gandum has quashed talk that he is unhappy about not being made a full minister in the week-old cabinet of premier Najib Abdul Razak.

However, he has a little more to say on the subject of Sarawak's representation at federal level.

joseph salang anak gandum 01 “Personally I have no reason to be unhappy. If there is any disappointment it is because of the low representation of Sarawak at cabinet level, when compared to Sabah. Nothing personal, although I am an interested party,” he said when contacted.

“Just look at Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), which has the second highest number of MPs (15). It has only one minister.”

Salang, who is in the information, communication, arts and culture ministry, is also Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) information chief.

Only two of the ministers are from Sarawak - Peter Chin Fah Kui (energy, green technology and water) and Douglas Uggah Embas (natural resources and environment), alongside nine deputy ministers.

The rural-based Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and PRS have two deputy ministers each. Off-shoots of Sarawak National Party and Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak respectively, they have four and six MPs. The Sarawak BN has 30 MPs.

anifah aman Sabah BN, with 24 MPs, has been given four ministerial posts. These are held by Bernard Dompok (plantation industries and commodities), Mohd Shafie Apdal (rural and regional development minister), Maximus Ongkilili (science, techology and innovations) and Anifah Aman (foreign affairs, right ).

This has led to disenchantment among parties in Sarawak. PBB had expected that one of its three deputy ministers would have been promoted to a full minister.

Sarawak United People’s Party (Supp) had hoped that its Bidayuh MP for Serian, Richard Riot, would be included in the cabinet.

Way to offset 'loss'

While Dayak leaders in SPDP and PRS seem to be happy with the community’s representation in the cabinet (one minister and four deputies), PBB and SUPP leaders have expressed disappointment.

Abang Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak Malays have joined the growing chorus of dissatisfaction over Najib’s cabinet line-up.

abang johari “We are unhappy because no Malay from Sarawak has been appointed as a full minister in the cabinet,” Johari said, pointing out that the last minister representing the community had been Adenan Satem.

“It is the prerogative of the prime minister to appoint someone to be in his cabinet. He may have reasons for not appointing a Malay MP from Sarawak.”

george chan hong nam Supp president George Chan echoed the sentiment, noting that Sarawak is “a bit under-represented” in the federal cabinet.

He hoped, however, that the prime minister would compensate for this by allocating a substantial sum to develop the state.