Sarawak's ruling four-party coalition, which controls 30 of the 31 parliamentary seats in the state, is disappointed at not getting a bigger representation in the new cabinet line-up announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak yesterday.

The coalition's senior partner Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu's (PBB) deputy minister Johari Openg said his party and the other component parties had expected a bigger representation but nevertheless respected Najib's wish for a trimmed-down cabinet.

2008 election results for sabah and sarawak 120508 Sarawak has two full ministers and nine deputy minister posts, while neighbouring Sabah got four ministers, an increase from three in the previous cabinet. The state, which won 24 of the 25 parliamentary seats, has six deputy ministers.

It is clear that Sabah has been rewarded for kicking up storm over possible defection to the opposition while Sarawak, which has been solid and resolute in its support for BN, was ignored.

Chinese-based Sarawak United People's Party (Supp) president Dr George Chan was quoted today as saying his party had submitted the entire list of its MPs and had expected Serian MP Richard Riot to be appointed at least to a deputy minister post.

When the five-term MP, a Dayak Bidayuh, was not appointed to any post after the March 8, 2008 parliamentary elections, there were rumours that he was mulling defection to opposition PKR.

His supporters in Serian had even surrendered their party membership cards and party leaders could not get in touch with Riot for several days until he finally appeared in Putrajaya to deny he was leaving the ruling coalition.

No promotion for Taib’s son

Johari said it was important that the cabinet, although smaller, would be able to function effectively to implement key projects.

According to him, PBB is satisfied with the new cabinet line-up and that the party has been given an important portfolio. He is referring to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, which is headed by the party’s senior vice-president Douglas Uggah Embas.

PBB has been given one full minister and three deputies.

Meanwhile, Supp has bagged one full minister - Peter Chin Fah Kui who heads the energy, green technology and water portfolio.

However, Chin was in charge of Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry previously, which is considered a more prominent post because of the plantations’ contribution to the economy.

Leaders of the other two component parties, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) - which have two deputy ministers each - have publicly said they were happy with the appointments.

There had been talk prior to the announcement of the cabinet line-up that PBB's Sulaiman Taib, son of Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, would be promoted to a full minister post.

Sulaiman, previously a corporate leader who presided over the family-owned business, has been retained as deputy tourism minister.

It had also been speculated that PBB leader and recently-appointed senator Effendi Norwawi would be brought back into the Najib cabinet.

According to sources, Taib had told a recent PBB supreme council meeting that Effendi would be appointed to oversee the development of the Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy (Score) projects.