Adenan Satem’s first press conference since assuming the post of Sarawak chief minister was neither short of wit nor humour when he announced the state cabinet line-up under him today.

At first, he dropped a bombshell among the media personnel when he said that he had dropped a minister from the line-up.

In the same breath, he said the minister who was supposedly dropped was none other than himself (Adenan), sending ripples of laughter among those present.

“I would like to tell you that I have dropped one minister... and he is Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem. He is no longer the minister for special functions and minister in the Chief Minister’s Office.

“I don’t know who he is, but the reason being somehow he had gone upstairs (moving up in position),” he said, adding that the portfolios which he held, prior to his elevation to chief minister would be left vacant.

Asked how long the portfolios would be left open, Adenan replied: “Until such time it is required to be filled... if that ever happens.”

Once again, the chief minister left the media in stitches when he commented on the impending Balingian by-election which is held, following the resignation of former chief minister and seat incumbent Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Adenan, who is Barisan Nasional (BN) state chairperson by virtue of him being the chief minister now, said the BN was cautiously confident of winning the by-election based on past victories in the constituency.

When told that the by-election could attract a lot of independent candidates, he said: “Independents (candidates) are free to contest wherever they want but we cannot guarantee that they will not lose their (election) deposits.”

- Bernama