Hajiji cabinet explained

The Hajiji cabinet took office on 29 September 2020, three days after the 2020 Sabah State Election.[1]

The cabinet consists of ministers and assistant ministers from the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), the dissidents of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH).[2] [3] BN led by then Deputy Chief Minister and State Minister of Works Bung Moktar Radin withdrew in January 2023, causing a political crisis. However, there were a few dissidents who did not follow BN to withdraw support for Hajiji, among them are Tanjung Keramat MLA Shahelmey Yahya who was later promoted to Deputy Chief Minister and appointed as State Minister of Works. Following this, Sabah BN is split into two factions in the government led by Shahelmey and opposition led by Bung Moktar. The crisis also saw PH joining the government after it decided to support Hajiji and allow him to regain the majority support in the assembly to remain as Chief Minister.

Cabinet Name:Hajiji cabinet
Total Number:11
Previous:Shafie cabinet
Budget:2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Legislature Term:16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly
Election:2020 Sabah state election
Opposition Leader:Mohd. Shafie Apdal (WARISAN)
Opposition Parties:Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN)
Legislature Status:Coalition government
with confidence & supply from IND
Jurisdiction:Sabah
State Head:Juhar Mahiruddin
Deputy Government Head:Shahelmey Yahya (UMNO)
Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR)
Joachim Gunsalam (PBS)
Government Head:Hajiji Noor (GRS)
Date Formed:29 September 2020
Incumbent:2020–present
Cabinet Number:20th

Current arrangement

Ministers

GRS (8) PH (2) BN (1)
PortfolioOfficeholderPartyConstituency
Chief MinisterDatuk Seri Panglima Hajiji NoorGRS (GAGASAN)Sulaman
Deputy Chief Minister
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry
Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan MPGRS (STAR)Tambunan
Deputy Chief Minister
Minister of Housing and Local Government
Datuk Dr. Joachim GunsalamGRS (PBS)Kundasang
Deputy Chief Minister
Minister of Works
Datuk Ir. Shahelmey Yahya MPBN (UMNO)Tanjung Keramat
Minister of FinanceDatuk Seri Panglima Masidi ManjunGRS (GAGASAN)Karanaan
Minister of Industrial Development and EntrepreneurshipDatuk Phoong Jin ZhePH (DAP)Luyang
Minister of Rural DevelopmentDatuk Jahid JahimGRS (PBS)Tamparuli
Minister of Tourism, Culture and EnvironmentDatuk Christina Liew Chin JinPH (PKR)Api-Api
Minister of Community Development and People's WellbeingDatuk James RatibGRS (GAGASAN)Sugut
Minister of Science, Technology and InnovationDatuk Mohd. Arifin Mohd. ArifGRS (GAGASAN)Membakut
Minister of Youth and SportsDatuk Ellron Alfred AnginGRS (STAR)Sook

Assistant Ministers

GRS (13) BN (3) PH (2)
PortfolioNamePartyConstituency
Assistant Minister to the Chief MinisterAbidin MadingkirGRS (STAR)Paginatan
Nizam Abu Bakar TitinganGRS (GAGASAN)Apas
Ruslan MuharamGRS (PBS)Lumadan
Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food IndustryHendrus AndingGRS (PBS)Tandek
Peto GalimPH (PKR)Inanam
Assistant Minister of Housing and Local GovernmentMohamad Hamsan Awang SupainBN (UMNO)Sungai Sibuga
Isnin AliasnihGRS (GAGASAN)Klias
Assistant Minister of WorksLimus JuryGRS (GAGASAN)Kuala Penyu
Robert TawikGRS (STAR)Bingkor
Assistant Minister of FinanceTan Lee FattPH (DAP)Likas
Julita MajungkiGRS (PBS)Matunggong
Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and EntrepreneurshipAndi Muhammad Suryady BandyBN (UMNO)Tanjung Batu
Assistant Minister of Rural DevelopmentSamad JambriGRS (GAGASAN)Labuk
Ruddy AwahGRS (GAGASAN)Pitas
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and EnvironmentJoniston BangkuaiGRS (PBS)Kiulu
Assistant Minister of Community Development and People's WellbeingFlovia NgGRS (STAR)Tulid
Assistant Minister of Science, Technology and InnovationHarun DurabiBN (UMNO)Bengkoka
Assistant Minister of Youth and SportsFairuz RenddanGRS (GAGASAN)Pintasan

Ex-officio members

PositionOffice bearer
SecretarySafar Untong
Attorney-GeneralNor Asiah Mohd Yusof
Financial SecretaryMohd. Sofian Alfian Nair

Cabinet shuffles

Minister/Assistant MinisterPosition before reshuffleResult of reshuffle
21 October 2022
Wetrom BahandaAssistant Minister to the Chief MinisterLeft the government (resigned)
26 October 2022
Nizam Abu Bakar TitinganAssistant Minister of FinanceGiven additional role as Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister
Julita MajungkiAssistant Minister of Community Development and People's WellbeingAssistant Minister of Finance
Fairuz RenddanBackbench MLAAssistant Minister of Special Functions and Coordination
11 January 2023
Bung Moktar RadinDeputy Chief Minister and Minister of WorksLeft the government (dismissal)
Jafry ArifinMinister of Tourism, Culture and EnvironmentLeft the government (dismissal)
Yakub KhanMinister of Science, Technology and InnovationLeft the government (dismissal)
Hajiji NoorChief Minister and Minister of FinanceChief Minister
Joachim GunsalamDeputy Chief Minister and Minister of Industrial DevelopmentDeputy Chief Minister and Minister of Housing and Local Government
Shahelmey YahyaMinister of Community Development and People's WellbeingDeputy Chief Minister and Minister of Works
Masidi ManjunMinister of Housing and Local Government and Second Minister of FinanceMinister of Finance
Mohd. Arifin Mohd. ArifMinister of Special Functions and CoordinationMinister of Science, Technology and Innovation
James RatibAssistant Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesMinister of Community Development and People's Wellbeing
Phoong Jin ZheBackbench MLAMinister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development
Christina Liew Chin JinBackbench MLAMinister of Tourism, Culture and Environment
26 January 2023
Jasnih DayaAssistant Minister of FinanceLeft the government
Mohd. Tamin ZainalAssistant Minister of Industrial DevelopmentLeft the government
Nizam Abu Bakar TitinganAssistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Assistant Minister of FinanceAssistant Minister of Finance
Harun DurabiAssistant Minister of Rural DevelopmentAssistant Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
Fairuz RenddanAssistant Minister of Special Functions and CoordinationBecame Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports
Ruddy AwahAssistant Minister of Science, Technology and InnovationAssistant Minister of Rural Development
Andi Muhammad Suryandy BandyAssistant Minister of Youth and SportsAssistant Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development
Ruslan MuharamBackbench MLABecame Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister
Tan Lee FattBackbench MLAAssistant Minister of Finance
Peto GalimBackbench MLAAssistant Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020-09-27. Official: GRS wins Sabah elections with two-seat majority. 2021-10-21. Malaysiakini.
  2. Web site: Miwil. Olivia. 2020-09-29. Hajiji, cabinet ministers sworn in at Istana Negeri New Straits Times. 2021-10-21. NST Online. en.
  3. Web site: Sabah's full Cabinet revealed. 2021-10-21. The Star. en.