He said although the state government, led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional (BN), had wanted to appoint individuals from the community as ministers in the state Cabinet, no Chinese candidates from the government parties won in the 16th state election in 2020.

However, the state government had appointed two former chief ministers from among the Chinese community to hold important positions.

Yong Teck Lee was appointed a member of the state legislative assembly, and Chong Kah Kiat was made the chief minister’s adviser for the tourism sector.

“When the next state election comes, give support to Chinese leaders who will be candidates for GRS. We will give them ministerial and assistant ministerial positions,” he said at a ceramah here last night.

Hajiji said what should be prioritised now were efforts to revive the economy and develop Sabah for the benefit of the people.

At a ceramah in Putatan on Monday, Warisan president Shafie Apdal questioned the efforts of the Sabah government to champion the plight of the Chinese when no one from that race was appointed as a minister in the state Cabinet.