Former Sabah Law Society president Datuk Roger Chin is expected to be appointed as one of six nominated assemblymen in Sabah today, with early sightings of the swearing-in ceremony at the Istana Negeri.
Chin has been a prominent advocate for Sabah’s constitutional 40 per cent tax return, spearheading the recent landmark High Court case that compelled the federal government to pay Sabah its dues and reach an agreement within 180 days.
Also expected to be appointed is Datuk Razali Razi, secretary-general of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah and the government candidate for Darau in the recent state polls. Razali, popularly known as Datuk Bob, narrowly lost the seat to Parti Warisan’s Azhar Matussin by 63 votes.
The other nominated assemblymen likely to be appointed include Datuk Chin Shu Ying (Liberal Democratic Party secretary-general), former senior private secretary to the chief minister Datuk Cesar Mandela Malakun, former chief political secretary Datuk Abdul Kassim Razali, and PKR Kota Kinabalu division chief Grace Lee.
Appointed assemblymen are a constitutional provision designed to strengthen the government’s majority in the State Assembly, while also providing a platform for minority voices.
The swearing-in ceremony is currently ongoing, following yesterday’s event where 10 members of the Cabinet were officially sworn in. The assistant ministers and nominated assemblymen are expected to complete their oath-taking today.
