CM refuses to be rushed into decision on Cabinet revamp and fate of Dr Jerip
KUCHING: There is not going to be any reshuffling of the State Cabinet, not until Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic) has given it his serious thought.
Reading in between the lines, however, a reshuffle looks likely when the chief minister, prodded for answers, said: “See lah. Sometimes if there is new technology, you need to get the right person to know the technology.”
If anything, that seems to point to the existence of some kind of a dinosaur in the administration that calls for relevancy.
The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chairman did say something to the effect that the present Cabinet is still there, which, however, is stating the obvious.
The fact that he has “not given reshuffling the Cabinet much thought” can only mean the process has begun, only that it hasn’t reached a serious stage.
Reporters also, tongue in cheek, asked whether Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) will be left out of the State Cabinet, and he replied: “I don’t know, honestly I don’t know.”
But the chief minister went on to state that PSB has been excluded from the list of new councillors.
“They (council chairmen and councilors’) are confined to GPS parties,” he said.
Asked if GPS will accept Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, who resigned as PSB deputy president, should he apply to join the coalition, Abang Johari said, “One at a time. I just got the statement yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.”
He said he had learnt of the Mambong assemblyman’s decision the same time as the media fraternity (social media) did.
When told by reporters that Dr Jerip’s supporters want him to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) of which he (Abang Johari) is president, he said, “We’ll see how it goes lah”.
Earlier, the chief minister officiated at the Mind and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Festival 2019 held at Chung Hua Middle School No. 1 here.
On Thursday, Transportation Assistant Minister Dr Jerip Susil left PSB, saying his decision was for the greater interest of the Bidayuh community.
