KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has asked critics to move on and not continue harping on the appointment of a “non-Sabahan” as a nominated assemblyman.
Commenting on the backlash following Penang-born Loh Ee Eng’s appointment under DAP’s quota, Shafie said it did not go against the Sabah constitution.
He said Sabah DAP’s suggestion must be respected.
“There will not be a review. He was forwarded by the party and they have the representation (quota) to nominate an assemblyman.
“Loh is a Malaysian who has lived here in Sabah for a long time. I’m confident he is qualified,” said Shafie, adding that there was no legal impediment to his appointment.
“So move forward and focus on better development for Sabah,” he said.
Shafie said this when met during the Hari Raya open house hosted by him and Sabah Cabinet ministers at Menara Tun Mustapha in Likas on Sunday (June 9).
Loh had moved to Sabah from Penang with his parents four decades ago.
On flood disaster preparation following heavy rain over the past week, Shafie said he would call on state secretary Datuk Hashim Paijan, who is also the state natural disaster committee chairman, to coordinate with related agencies.
“I want him to combine manpower – not just with the Fire and Rescue Department, Federal and state government agencies – but also volunteers to plan medical services and food.
“At the same time, we need to eradicate long-term problems, which means we not only focus on drainage and irrigation, but also the high tide as the rising water levels and blocked drainage caused flooding.
“We carried out a flood mitigation programme in Likas before at a cost of about RM5mil.
“So we should look into this, containing the water level rising from sea to avoid floods,” he added.