KOTA KINABALU: Thousands gathered at Terminal Two of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to welcome the newly appointed Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Musa Aman, on Wednesday (Dec 18) following his official appointment at Istana Negara.
Musa, 73, arrived on the Sabah Government jet at around noon, dressed in a black suit and songkok., smiling and waving to the enthusiastic crowd that had gathered as early as 8am.
Disembarking with him was his son, Sipitang MP Datuk Yamani Hafez Musa, Sabah State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong and State Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M Yahya.
They were received by Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, who is also Musa’s son-in-law, as well as several Cabinet ministers, assistant ministers, assemblymen, and other dignitaries.
On Tuesday (Dec 17) Musa’s appointment ceremony took place in the Small Throne Room at Istana Negara. The event was attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
During the event, Musa was also conferred the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara award, which carries the title "Tun."
Musa succeeds outgoing Tuan Yang DiPertua Negeri, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, who will conclude his 14-year term on Dec 31. Juhar, who began his tenure on Jan 1, 2011, is the longest-serving Governor of Sabah.
Born on March 30, 1951, in Beaufort, Musa holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Edith Cowan University, Australia.
He served as Sabah’s 14th Chief Minister from March 27, 2003, to May 12, 2018, making him the state’s longest-serving Chief Minister.
Musa also represented Sungai Sibuga as an assemblyman for six terms (1994-2020) and held key positions such as Sabah Finance Minister, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department, and Malaysia’s Honorary Consul in Bangladesh.
