The appointment of LDP veep Liew Yun Fah as youth and sports minister is made based on the principle of power-sharing practised by the Sabah BN government, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman stressed.

"We have appointed Liew (Yun Fah) from the Liberal Democratic Party as a state minister because we honour our friends in BN. He is not new in politics as he has been involved in it a long time," said Musa, according to a Daily Express report.

Liew, the Merotai state rep, replaced Masidi Manjun, who now holds the Tourism, Culture and Environment portfolio following the resignation of Chong Kah Kiat, who was also deputy chief minister when he quit the state cabinet on April 16, citing principles.

Besides Liew and Masidi, the cabinet reshuffle also involves the Infrastructure Development Minister and SAPP deputy president Raymond Tan Shu Kiah who has been appointed deputy chief minister to represent the Chinese community.

Experienced and suitable

On the appointments of Tan and Masidi, Musa said they were experienced members of the cabinet and were suitable for their respective posts. All three were sworn in before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah at Istana Negeri yesterday.

Commenting on the appointments, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Joseph Pairin Kitingan expressed confidence that the newly-minted ministers will be able to bring new ideas in carrying out government policies and assisting the target groups.

Based on this, Pairin, also a deputy chief minister, said he fully supported the appointments made by Musa and pledged to continue co-operating with the ministers in implementing government policies.

Meanwhile, Musa maintained his earlier statement relating to the construction of the tallest Mazu (Sea Goddess) statue in Kudat.

On Thursday, Musa had said he did not object to the building of the said statue but advised the parties concerned to consider the interest of all communities in the area to maintain harmony.

He was responding to several Chinese associations in the state that have come out in support of the construction of the 10-storey structure that was on its way to completion before it was ordered to stop by the local council.