Musa tells Tan to stay on as deputy CM and minister

Source NST

KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah has set a precedent by becoming the first independent to hold the post of deputy chief minister of Sabah.

The former Sabah Progressive Party deputy president, who left his party after it pulled out of the Barisan Nasional, also retains the post of infrastructure development minister.

He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had told him to stay on.

"The chief minister wants to raise the matter with BN component leaders first before making a decision.

"He (Musa) asked me to continue working until a decision is made," he said referring to an imminent cabinet reshuffle following SAPP's exit from the ruling coalition.

"Once a decision is made I will not question his prerogative. It is entirely up to the chief minister," he said after submitting a letter to Musa at his office in Wisma Innoprise here.

Tan said he preferred not to call it a "resignation" letter as this may appear as if SAPP president Datuk Yong Teck Lee had directed him to vacate his positions in the state cabinet.

"I am in a peculiar position now as I am no longer with SAPP and this brings into question the positions I hold in government," said Tan, who added that there was no need for him to resign from the SAPP.

"I declare that I am no longer with the party just as how SAPP declared it was no longer with the BN.

"I don't think the party sent any letter to the BN when they made the decision to leave, so why should I? I learnt this from them," he said.

Tan confirmed that he was keeping in touch with leaders of BN component parties, a few of whom had invited him to join them.

"I am considering all the invitations that have been extended to me and I have met those leaders during functions and meetings."

He also said that he was keeping open the option of setting up a new party as that was among the suggestions he received from the grassroots.

Earlier, Musa and Tan attended a handing over of Hari Raya cakes to members of the security forces at the Tun Mustapha Tower.