KOTA KINABALU, Oct 26 — The Sabah government has officially filled the vacancy in the state Cabinet following the departure of former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia assemblyman Datuk Wetrom Bahanda from the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition recently.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said that Apas assemblyman Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan is now the assistant minister in the Chief Minister’s Department replacing Wetrom who left the ruling coalition to contest the Kota Marudu seat against GRS in the coming general election.

Nizam’s post as assistant finance minister will be taken over by Datuk Julita Majungki who was the state community development and people’s wellbeing assistant minister.

Wetrom, who is Bandau assemblyman, quit the party and after a brief dalliance with Parti Warisan, eventually joined Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia (PKDM) last week.

Meanwhile, Pintasan assemblyman Datuk Fairuz Renddan, who is also Sabah Bersatu’s Youth chief, will be appointed as the new assistant state minister of special tasks and coordination.

Kukusan assemblyman Rina Jainal will take over Fairuz’s post as political secretary to the state finance minister.