COMMENT | For months, there has been speculation that Musa Aman will be appointed as Sabah’s 11th governor.

This week, it became official; Sabah’s longest-serving chief minister ousted from power through elections in 2018, charged with corruption tied to timber concessions that year and freed of the 46 charges in 2020, will now occupy Istana Seri Kinabalu come January.

Strong reactions

Initial reactions have been emotive. On-the-ground responses in Sabah have varied - from anger and outrage to disappointment, frustration, resignation and relief.

Out of the five chief ministers in Sabah who have been governors, this is the first one where there have been open protests and opposition. Musa’s 15-year tenure as chief minister ended in controversy, with his removal from office a key election issue in the 2018 campaign.