PM ACCEPTS KAH KIAT’S DECISION TO RESIGN

Abdullah with his deputy Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak (right) and Musa (left) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday
14th April, 2007

 
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday said he accepted the decision by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat (top) to resign as a member of the State Cabinet. “Sabah Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Musa Aman) has informed me about the resignation. I don’t have any objections. “I have accepted his resignation from the (Sabah) cabinet… let him rest,” he told reporters after opening a conference on efforts to improve the public service delivery system here.

The Prime Minister said that it did not come as a surprise as Kah Kiat had previously mentioned his intention to resign because he wanted to rest.Abdullah also said that the resignation was not really a loss for Sabah because the position would not be left vacant for a long time. “I wish to thank him for his service as a Sabah cabinet minister,” he said.

Kah Kiat who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, announced his decision to quit effective Monday in Kota Kinabalu yesterday. Meanwhile when asked whether the resignation had anything to do with the construction of a huge statue in the state, Abdullah said that the matter was not mentioned as being one of the reasons for Kah Kiat’s decision.

Meanwhile Musa who is also Sabah BN chairman said in a statement that he had already informed the Prime Minister on the matter. “I want to thank him (Kah Kiat) for his services during his tenure of office,” he said.