KUCHING: Sarawak’s new state Cabinet was sworn in on Tuesday night (Jan 4), two and a half weeks after Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) won the 12th state election.

Led by three deputy chief ministers, the Cabinet members took their oath of office in front of Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex here.

The Deputy Chief Ministers are Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also Second Minister for Finance and New Economy, and Infrastructure and Port Development Minister; Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is also Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, and International Trade and Investment Minister; and Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, who also helms the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Uggah and Awang Tengah also served as deputy chief ministers in the previous state Cabinet, while Dr Sim was appointed deputy chief minister after the Dec 18 polls.

Seven other ministers and 26 assistant ministers were also sworn in at the ceremony.

The Cabinet line-up was announced by Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg last Thursday (Dec 30), with 12 new faces among the assistant ministers.

Abang Johari was sworn in as Chief Minister on Dec 18 immediately after GPS’s election victory.

GPS, which comprises Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), won 76 of the 82 state seats in the election.