Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s decision to hold two portfolios in the state Cabinet is seen as a worrying trend, said a non-governmental organisation.

Sabah Bersih said in a statement that Shafie, who also holds the post as the state Finance Minister, was not what voters wanted.

“The rakyat voted for change, wants transparency and credibility,” it wrote yesterday.

Sabah Bersih said like many others, it was worried about the turn of events, which was what the Barisan Nasional government practised in the past.

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It said though it was not in Parti Warisan Sabah’s manifesto, the commitment to reform and practising good governance should be the priority.

“We respect the Chief Minister’s prerogative to construct his Cabinet but it should be based on good governance principle, where a Chief Minister should not hold critical posts such as Finance.

“That is the reform that the rakyat want to see,” it added.

Nonetheless, Sabah Bersih said it was willing to give the new state government, and Shafie Apdal, who is also Warisan president, the benefit of the doubt because they had five years to prove themselves.

The new state government’s focus should be based on the need for decentralisation of power and accountability, as the people expected improved transparency and credibility, it said.

In the meantime, Bersih Sabah said it would continue to keep an eye on the government as well as the Opposition.