Federal Ministers from Sarawak

March 18, 2008 23:22 PM
KUCHING, March 18 (Bernama) -- The appointment of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, 53, as the new Minister of Natural Resources and Environment is seen as a positive reflection of the Dayak community in Sarawak.The six-term Betong MP is one of two ministers from Sarawak appointed to the new Cabinet announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.Prior to his new Cabinet appointment, he was the Deputy Transport Minister, a post he had held since June 24, 2003.An Iban from Spaoh in the PBB stronghold of Betong, he represented the Pesaka wing of the state Barisan Nasional (BN) dominant party, which was the result of a merger between Parti Pesaka and Parti Bumiputera in 1973.A former bank officer, Uggah holds a Bachelor in Economics (Honours) degree from Universiti Malaya, after receiving his secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St Luke in Sri Aman.The father of four ventured into politics when he was appointed political secretary to the Sarawak Chief Minister from 1977 to 1986, and as a second-term MP, he was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister's Department after he successfully contested in the October 1990 general election.Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) organising secretary Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, who is also the fifth-term Miri MP, retains his previous portfolio as Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister.He was first appointed to the post on March 30, 2004 after the general election that year.A lawyer, who obtained his Barrister-at-Law from Gray's Inn, London in 1971, he also served as chairman of the Housing Complaints Monitoring Committee, set up to look into problems faced by purchasers and developers in the country.Chin was Miri Municipal Council chairman from 1984 to 1987 before being appointed the Welfare Ministry's Parliamentary Secretary (1986), Science, Technology and Environment Deputy Minister (1990), and Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister (1995-1999).Married to Datin Ruby Wee Hui Kiang, the couple has three children.