SIBU, May 16- Julau member of parliament Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum (photo), has rejected his appointment as Tourism and Culture deputy minister in the new Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Salang when contacted said if he had to choose between being a deputy minister and his family, he would choose his family. He said he might have to consider too if it was a higher post or full minister’s post.
“I think it’s best to give way to others to have the deputy minister post,” he said. Salang was the Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister before the 13th General Election.
He won the election by a 5,955-vote majority against Wong anak Judat of the Sarawak Workers Party and Andy Wong Hong Yu of the PKR.
Meanwhile, Salang supporters in Julau were disappointed when he was not given a full minister’s post despite having served in at least three different deputy minister portfolios in the past.
“Given his vast experience, commitment, dedication and sincerity, we expected him to be promoted but he was given a comparatively junior post,” said Desmond Sunok, a spokesman from the group.
He said Salang had also contacted him over his decision not to accept the new cabinet post.
-BERNAMA
