Sabah Umno liaison chairperson Musa Aman will replace Chong Kah Kiat as the next Sabah chief minister under the state's unique rotation system for the top post.

Under the rotation system, a leader from Umno representing the Muslim bumiputeras will take over the post o­n March 27 after Chong, representing the Chinese community, complete his two-year term.

The appointment of Musa, a veteran Sabah Umno leader, Umno Supreme Council member and the state Finance Minister, was announced by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur today.

Musa will be the seventh chief minister under the rotation system.

Open secret

Though his appointment to the top post was widely speculated, Musa yesterday told reporters that all state Umno leaders had agreed to allow the national Umno leadership to decide o­n Chong's successor.

Musa said Sabah Umno was united and disciplined o­n the issue of the state chief ministership.

Umno president Mahathir introduced the rotation system after the state election in 1994, promising that representatives from the three largest ethnic groups Malay, Chinese and Kadazandusun will take turn to hold the chief minister's post every two years under a "1:1:1" formula.

However, this was changed to "2:1:1" later to give Umno o­ne term more than the other two groups to reflect its larger portion of legislative seats.

Chong, from Liberal Democratic Party, replaced Umno's Osu Sukam who kicked-start the second rotation cycle.

The cycle will end after another Umno leader and a Kadazandusun leader complete their tenures.