Will Sabah get first woman Assembly Speaker?

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's Cabinet may also see a reshuffle if speculation that Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin is tipped to fill the Speaker post vacated by Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak proves true.Salleh had to vacate the post after he was named as the Multimedia and Communication Minster in Tuesday's Cabinet reshuffle at the Federal level. Yahya is also State Agriculture and Food Industry Minister.

Parti Bersatu Sabah president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Sabah Umno secretary Yahya and Parti Gerakan Vice President Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah currently hold the Deputy CM posts.

Salleh is Umno's elected representative in Usukan, Kota Belud.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman is keeping mum over the choice of Speaker.

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Should Yahya be given the Speaker's post, it would then pave the way for two Umno senior politicians, namely Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as well as Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun to take over the number two spot.

Sources do not dismiss also the possibility of Sabah having its first female Speaker, in Datuk Armani Mahiruddin, 58, who served as former Dewan Negara (Senate) Deputy Speaker.as the potential candidate.

The state government will have to make a decision before the next State Legislative Assembly sitting, in October.

Based on seniority, the former has the edge. With the removal of Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as the Rural and Regional Development Minister, it is likely that Musa might promote an Assemblyman from Semporna to strengthen Umno's hold in the area, thus providing an opening for an Assistant Minister's post in the Sabah Cabinet.

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There is also speculation that Sabah Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (Sabah BNBBC) Chairman, Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail, 66, would be named.

Going by seniority, the former Agriculture and Food Industry Minister and Pantai Manis assemblyman has the advantage as not only has he been in the political scene for ages, his vast experience as a state minister makes him to be in the know of the government administration, inside out.

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