Poon takes Health; Phoong Sports
Published on: Saturday, May 18, 2019
By: Winnie Kasmir and Larry Ralon
SANDAKAN: Tanjung Papat Assemblyman Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung expressed his gratitude, Friday, to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Mohd Shafie Apdal for his trust and confidence as well as the State Cabinet over his new appointment as State Minister of Health and People’s Wellbeing.“I am honoured to be appointed after having served as the Minister of Youth and Sports Sabah for a year and also acting Minister of Health and People’s Wellneing for one-and-a-half months,” he said.
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Poon also thanked the Sabah Cabinet for appointing two other comrades of his Democratic Action Party (DAP).
Earlier, Shafie announced that Luyang Assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe is the new State Minister of Youth and Sports while Sabah DAP Treasurer Loh Ee Eng was made a Nominated Assemblyman.
“I pledge to work even harder with the objective to serve the people, particularly the poor, sick and needy around this State.
“As an Acting Chairman of Sabah State DAP, I will continue to work closely with DAP headquarters and our party members in Sabah so that we can serve the people more effectively.” he said.
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The post of Minister of Health and People’s Wellbeing became vacant after the sudden death of Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt on March 28.
Wong, was a Sandakan Member of Parliament and a Nominated Assemblyman, besides being Sabah DAP Chairman.
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“This is not a reshuffle, but just to fill the vacant post. The swearing-in ceremony will be next Tuesday,” said Mohd Shafie, adding these were agreed upon during a discussion between him and DAP leaders at the State and Central-levels.
“We have discussed filling up the vacant post fast but I did not do it because we needed to give focus to the Sandakan parliamentary by-election first.
“We needed a senior Minister to hold the Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister post and coincidentally Poon was already the acting Minister and is also now the Sabah DAP Chairman.
“While for the Youth and Sport Minister post we needed a young person. I am confident they will execute the responsibilities entrusted to them well,” he said.
Asked about a Hari Raya bonus for State civil servants, Mohd Shafie said Sabah is not a rich state and does not have much money.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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