Kota Kinabalu: A total of 78 Sabah assemblymen, including five appointed ones, were sworn in before Speaker Datuk Kadzim M Yahya at the State Legislative Assembly, Thursday.
The swearing-in ceremony was led by Sulaman Assemblyman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also the Chief Minister, followed by Kundasang Assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, the Deputy Chief Minister I and Sabah Minister of Public Works and Utilities.
This was followed by Karanaan Assemblyman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, who is Deputy Chief Minister II and Sabah Minister of Finance, and Kadamaian Assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick, who serves as Deputy Chief Minister III and Sabah Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport.
In addition, seven assemblymen who are also Sabah Cabinet Ministers took their oaths, namely Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (Membakut), Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Rubin Balang (Kemabong), Datuk Jamawi Jaafar (Melalap), Datuk Jafry Arifin (Sukau), Datuk Nizam Abu Titingan (Apas) and Datuk Julita Majungki (Matunggong).
Next up were 17 assemblymen appointed as Assistant Ministers, including Datuk Caesar Mandela Malakun, who is an appointed assemblyman.
Apart from Caesar, five other appointed assemblymen also took their oaths, namely Datuk Chin Shu Ying, Datuk Abdul Kassim Razali, Datuk Mohamed Razali Mohamed Razi, Datuk Roger Chin Ken Fong and Grace Lee Li Mei.
Senallang Assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who is also the Opposition Leader, likewise took his oath of office.
Earlier at the ceremony, Kadzim expressed his condolences to the family of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who passed away last Friday, and prayed that his soul be placed among the righteous.
Bung, who was also Kinabtangan MP and Sabah Barisan Nasional Chairman, had defended his Lamag seat in the election but died at age 66 on Dec 5 due to lung and kidney complications.
In the 17th Sabah State Election held on Nov 29, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) won 29 of the 73 seats contested, followed by Parti Warisan (Warisan) with 25 seats, Barisan Nasional (six), Independents (five), United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) (three) and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) (two).
Perikatan Nasional, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat and Pakatan Harapan each secured one seat.
