KOTA KINABALU: The two Sabah first-term MPs who have been appointed deputy ministers are high performers, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       The Chief Minister said he had full confidence in the ability of Kimanis MP Datuk Mohamad Alamin (Deputy Education Minister) and Yamani Hafez Musa (Finance Minister II) to succeed in their new roles.

       He also welcomed the reappointment of two Sabahans as ministers – Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili and Datuk Ronald Kiandee, both retaining their Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) and Agriculture and Food Industries portfolios respectively.

       He said that reappointing Ongkili and Kiandee to their previous positions would allow them to continue complete they had planned to do.

       Hajiji said the state government would be working very closely with Ongkili on matters pertaining to state rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

       He also said that Kiandee's portfolio was crucial to help the state government achieve its Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development plan, with agriculture a key component.

       Two other deputy ministers from Sabah were Jonathan Yassin (Deputy Home Minister II) and Arthur Joseph Kurup (Deputy Works Minister).

       Hajiji described the new Cabinet as an action-oriented team capable of effectively dealing with the economic challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

       "The people have high expectations on them, and hopefully with this new team, we can now focus on efforts to address the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recovery," he said in a statement.

       "Congratulations and I wish them (Federal Cabinet) well in discharging their duties," he said.