SANDAKAN: The Sabah government has included many Chinese leaders in its administration, although there are none in the state cabinet, said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah- Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) coalition chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
"It is my wish to appoint Chinese leaders as ministers in the state government, but we all know that in the last state election, none of our Chinese candidates won.
"In the next state election, please support Chinese leaders who are GRS candidates, and we will give ministerial and assistant ministerial posts to them," he said in a ceramah at Hakka hall here last night.
The Chief Minister was responding to Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who had said that the GRS-BN did not appoint any Chinese in the state cabinet.
However, Hajiji said that the government did appoint two Chinese leaders, Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee and Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat as his advisors. Both of them are former state Chief Ministers.
As for GRS candidate in the Sandakan parliamentary seat, Kapitan Thomas Lau, Hajiji said he is qualified and experienced in helping to bring about change in Sandakan, if given a mandate this Saturday.
"I knew him when I was the Minister of Local Government and Housing. He was the then deputy president of the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS)"
"He is experienced and has an excellent track record in local authority administration (PBT). That is why after discussing with SAPP (Sabah Progressive Party) president (Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee), I have no doubt in fielding him as our candidate,"
"Because he has extensive experience, he has far-reaching and a good vision to develop the Sandakan economy in the future".
"You have to vote for him because he is a state government candidate. If you choose someone else, it won't be possible to raise problems and requests from Sandakan's Chinese community to the state or federal government."
