No more an `office boy'....

After Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's announcement of the country new Federal Cabinet this afternoon, Mapu, a friend of mine commented,"At last he is no longer an office boy in the Prime Minister's Department."

When I asked him to explain, Mapu said," The people of Sabah, particularly the Penampang constituents are now happy, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok is now no longer an `office boy' in the Prime Minister's Department."

He said Dompok now a Minister with a portfolio as until today he was only a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. In the new Cabinet line-up, the UPKO president is Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister.

Dompok is among the four MPs from Sabah made full ministers.

Datuk Anifah Aman (Umno-Kimanis), who declined a Deputy Minister's post after the March 8, 2008 general elections, is now Foreign Minister. Newly elected Umno Vice President Datuk Shafie Apdal (Umno-Semporna) is Rural and Regional Development Minister while Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili (PBS-Kota Marudu) stay as Science, Technology and Innovation Minister.

Newly elected Umno Puteri head Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin (Umno-Papar) is among the five MPs from Sabah made Deputy Ministers. Rosnah is Health Deputy Minister. The three others were Deputy Ministers in the previous Cabinet but had been moved to new ministries.

Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who is Pensiangan MP and president of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) is now Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Liew Vui Keong is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department while Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri (Umno-Kudat) is Transport Deputy Minister. Datuk Lajim Ukin (Umno-Beaufort) is now Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister.