Sabah DAP has expressed strong support for Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s commitment to appoint a Chinese deputy chief minister if the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS)-Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition retains power in the upcoming state election.
Chan Foong Hin, the deputy chairman of Sabah DAP and federal deputy minister, highlighted that appointing a Chinese deputy chief minister was a long-standing tradition in Sabah’s government, ensuring equitable representation for all communities. “Sabah DAP strongly supports this agenda of equality for all. I am proud of Sabah and of the progress we are achieving together,” he stated in a Facebook post.
Historically, Sabah’s state Cabinet included a Chinese deputy chief minister until the practice ceased in 2020 under the GRS administration, which lacked Chinese assemblymen at the time. The last Chinese deputy chief minister was PKR’s Christina Liew, who served in the Shafie Apdal-led government formed in 2018.
Following an unsuccessful attempt by Sabah Barisan Nasional to oust Hajiji in 2023, the GRS chairman secured PH’s support, integrating the coalition into the state administration. This led to the appointment of Sabah DAP chief Phoong Jin Zhe and former state PH chairman Christina Liew as ministers, restoring Chinese representation in the state Cabinet.
Chan also praised Hajiji’s pledge to recognize the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) from Chinese vernacular schools, enabling students to access state scholarships and enroll in state-owned universities. He described these commitments as reflective of the GRS-PH government’s vision for its next term, should it secure a renewed mandate, and the collaborative consensus between the coalitions.
“Over the past two years, we have engaged regularly with the chief minister on the needs and aspirations of Sabah’s Chinese community,” said Chan, the Kota Kinabalu MP. “His latest decisions demonstrate that these proposals are being taken seriously, serving as a symbol of peaceful coexistence and equality in Sabah, while also sending an important signal for national politics.”
