In a Facebook post, Salleh said he received his letter of appointment today from Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor.

“I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the chief minister for the trust and confidence placed in me.

“I will carry out this responsibility with full commitment, guided by my experience, and uphold the principles of transparency, integrity, and accountability,” he said.

Salleh, the Sabah Umno treasurer, was formerly the three-term Kota Belud MP and four-term Usukan assemblyman.

The former federal minister lost his Usukan state seat to Warisan’s Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis by just 442 votes in a six-cornered contest during the Sabah polls last November.