KUALA LUMPUR (May 19): Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak has been appointed Sabah's inspector general of projects. 

Salleh, the BN candidate who lost the Usukan state seat in the 17th Sabah state election last year, announced the appointment in a facebook posting earlier on Tuesday.

“I would like to express my highest appreciation to the Right Honourable Chief Minister of Sabah for the trust and confidence placed in me. I will carry out this responsibility with full dedication, guided by my experience, while ensuring governance that is transparent, ethical, and accountable,” he said.

Salleh served as chief minister of Sabah from December 1994 to May 1996.

He was also the minister of communications and multimedia in the BN government under former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak from July 2015 until the BN administration collapsed in May 2018.

Salleh is the son of Mohammad Said Keruak, who was also the seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), chaired by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, formed the Sabah state government after winning 29 seats and gaining support from five independent candidates, three assemblymen from United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), and one from Pakatan Harapan. 

Following the exit of United Sabah National Organisation (USNO) in April, GRS now consists of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party, Parti Cinta Sabah, and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah.