Five new faces to the Sabah cabinet received their letters of appointment and took their oath of office before Yang Dipertua Negeri, Juhar Mahiruddin, at Istana Negeri in Kota Kinabalu today.

They are Radin Malleh, Siringan Gubat, Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan, Jainab Ahmad Ayid and Teo Chee Kang.

Joseph Pairin Kitingan led the ceremony followed by Yahya Hussin and Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.

The other cabinet members retained are Hajiji Mohd Noor and Masidi Manjun. They took the oath of office before Juhar and witnessed by High Court Judge P Ravinthran.

Also sworn in were 18 assistant ministers which include nine new faces.

The nine are Arifin Mohd Arif, Masiung Banah, Ramlee Marahaban, Zakaria Idris, Joachim Gunsalam, Hamisa Samad, Nilwan Kabang, Kamarlin Ombi and Anita Baranting.

The assistant ministers retained are Edward Yong Oui Fah, Ellron Angin, Michael Asang, Datuk Bobbey Ahfang Suan, Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar, Sirin Karno, Musbah Jamli, Bolkiah Ismail and Pang Yuk Ming.

On Monday, Musa Aman was sworn in as chief minister of Sabah for a fourth term.

In the 13th general election (GE13), Sabah BN got two-thirds majority after winning 48 out of 60 state seats.

The opposition won 12 state seats compared to only three in 2008.

Also present at the ceremony were Yang Dipertua Negeri’s wife, Norlidah RM Jasni, Musa and his wife, Faridah Tusin.

- Bernama