KUCHING, Feb 14 – Media efforts to get the reaction of Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang on the appointment of Tan Sri Adenan Satem as Sarawak Chief Minister has drawn a blank. The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) deputy president I said “no comment” and went into his official car when asked by pressmen while
accompanying Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to return to his hotel here, today.
Jabu, the Iban from Betong who has been Deputy Chief Minister and PBB deputy president for over three decades was not among candidates named to replace Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as Chief Minister.
The candidates were Adenan, Minister of Tourism and Housing Development cum PBB deputy president II, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Openg and Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment, Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, the PBB senior vice-president 1.
Abdul Taib who yesterday meet with Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Muhammad Sallahuddin at Astana Negeri to inform of his resignation as Chief Minister announced that Adenan would be appointed as Sarawak Chief Minister from March 1.
Adenan, who is also Minister with Special Functions and PBB information chief, is expected to be sworn in as Sarawak’s fifth Chief Minister on Feb 28.
Jabu has remained silent since Abdul Taib announced his plan to retire on Saturday during a meeting of the PBB Supreme Council at party headquarters here.
Although many people are in favour of Adenan’s appointment, there are those who were disappointed that Jabu, a more senior party official, had been overlooked.
Supporters of Abang Johari also expressed frustration that their man was not chosen for the state’s top post.
-BERNAMA
