Sabah Umno Youth questions appointment of Bersatu exco as Covid spokesperson
The position should be given to one of the three stats deputy chief ministers according to hierarchy, in the absence of Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, Aziz was quoted as saying by Malay Mail...
Sabah Umno Youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain (above) has questioned the state government's decision in appointing the state Local Government and Housing Minister, Masidi Manjun of Bersatu, as its temporary spokesperson for Covid-19.
The position should be given to one of the three state deputy chief ministers according to hierarchy, in the absence of Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, said Aziz, as quoted in the Malay Mail.
“It should be one of the deputy chief ministers or the minister in-charge of health. The deputy chief minister cannot be just a ceremonial post.
“It’s the deputy chief minister who should assist the chief minister in the event he (the chief minister) isn’t available.
“It is a known fact that there are three deputy chief ministers and one of them should be taking charge in the absence of the chief minister, but this is not happening and I think it should be corrected, just to avoid people getting confused about the roles of the ministers," he said.
Alternately, Aziz added, the spokesperson should be Community Development and Public Wellbeing Minister Shahelmey Yahya, since the health portfolio falls under his ministry.
Shahelmey is BN's Tanjung Keramat assemblyperson while Masidi is from Bersatu/PN. Both BN and PN are in the ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
The decision of the Hajiji-led state government not to set up a separate Health Ministry amid the Covid-19 surge in Sabah has drawn concern and criticism.
Hajiji, who is being treated for coronavirus at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, had appointed Masidi as the state’s temporary official spokesperson on Covid-19.
Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president and state assemblyperson Yong Teck Lee said the health portfolio is not necessary as it would only bring about duplication of duties.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.