KOTA KINABALU, Sept 29 — Sabah Perikatan Nasional chairman Datuk Hajiji Noor took his oath of office this morning to officially be appointed as the 16th chief minister of Sabah.

At the same ceremony, Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and STAR president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan were also sworn in as deputy chief ministers.

Also named as a deputy chief minister was Datuk Joachim Gunsalam from PBS.

Bung and Hajiji had been tussling over the CM’s post until yesterday when the former conceded the post.

The two are part of the informal Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition that won the 16th state election on Saturday.

The four leaders took their oaths of office before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at the Sabah State Palace this morning.

Bung was also allocated the local government and housing portfolio while Kitingan was made state minister of agriculture and fisheries; Gunsalam received the industrial development portfolio.

Additionally, Sabah Bersatu deputy chief Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun was sworn in as the Sabah works minister and PBS secretary-general Datuk Jahid Jahim was put in charge of rural development.

Earlier, Juhar presented the ministers with their letters of appointment, which they then signed in front of High Court Judge Datuk Martin Idang.