IN A surprise inclusion, Hajiji Noor has brought Sabah Umno secretary Jafry Ariffin into the new state Cabinet that was sworn in by Governor Musa Aman at Istana Kinabalu.

Jafry, the Barisan Nasional’s Sukau assemblyman, was sworn in along with new faces, including Upko president Ewon Benedick, Sabah Pakatan’s sole winner Jamawi Jaafar, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) secretary-general Julita Mojungkil, Gagasan Rakyat’s vice-president Rubin Balang and Gagasan Rakyat information chief Nizam Titingan.

Hajiji has retained PBS president Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Gagasan Rakyat deputy president cum GRS secretary general Seri Masidi Manjun, Gagasan Rakyat’s Mohd Arifin Ariff and Sugut assemblyman James Ratib in his Cabinet that was sworn in at 3.30pm on Monday (Dec 1).

Joachim was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister I, Masidi as DCM II, and Ewon as DCM III.

They were sworn in by Sabah Governor Musa Aman at his official residence in Istana Seri Kinabalu on Monday (Dec 1).

The newly appointed ministers, who took their oath before Musa, signed the appointment document witnessed by Chief Judge of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak Azizah Nawawi.

Sabah Barisan, led by Bung Moktar Radin and Hajiji’s GRS, who are both part of the federal unity government, had contested each other in the recent state election, but neither contested against Pakatan candidates in an electoral pact.

Barisan won six seats (five by Umno and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah – 1) with Upko winning three seats after contesting as an opposition, leaving Pakatan five days before the state polls.

In the election, GRS won 29 seats (Gagasan Rakyat 23 and PBS 6) and Pakatan one seat, giving the new GRS coalition government a majority of 39 seats. Five independent assemblymen are reportedly backing GRS.

Opposition Warisan led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal won 25 seats and Sabah STAR led by Jeffrey Kitingan won two seats and Parti KDM one seat in the 73-member state assembly.