00:00Analysts said Hajiji Noor's state minister choices signal a desire for a bigger, safer
00:05locals in the Sabah government and an effort to have state-based parties close ranks.
00:11University Technology Mara Sabah senior lecturer Tony Paradis Bagang said, appointing UPCO
00:17President Ewan Benedict as deputy chief minister, recognizes his party's support for Gabongan
00:22Rakyat Sabah.
00:24Bagang said winning three seats allows UPCO to add weight to the Sabah first messaging
00:29and help regain trust among Kadazan Dusun and Murud voters.
00:33He said giving only one portfolio to Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional reflects GRS's
00:40desire to maintain Sabah's dominance while preserving its working relationship with Pucca Jaya.
00:46University Malayah's Awang Azman Pawi said Ewan's rise shows Hajiji wants to reclaim the
00:51KDNM narrative after close fights in several interior seats.
00:56He said Ewan is a consistent and progressive KDNM leader whose inclusion will boost GRS's
01:03standing among non-Muslim Bumiputra voters.
01:06University of Tasmania's James Chin suggested Party Solidarity Tana Ayaku President Jeffrey
01:12Kitingan being passed over for a state cabinet post was Hajiji's way of expressing displeasure
01:18with the party for pulling out of GRS before the polls, although star-elected Representative
01:24Ishak Ayyub, who won the Binkor seat, has been appointed Assistant Minister of Finance.
01:30He said the inclusion of Jamawi Jafar from PKR who won the Melalap seat in the cabinet was
01:35expected, calling the line-up a rehash of the old government, referring to the GRS PH Plus
01:42government formed after the 2020 state polls.
01:45Hanyu Zhou, FMT.
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