Hajiji, 65, took his oath of office before Governor Juhar Mahiruddin at Istana Negeri.

Also sworn in were three deputy chief ministers – Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Bung Moktar Radin, STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan and PBS vice-president Joachim Gunsalam.

Bung will also be in charge of the housing and local government portfolio, Jeffrey the agriculture and fisheries portfolio, and Gunsalam the industrial development portfolio.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) agreed to pick Hajiji, Sabah PPBM chief, as the chief minister yesterday, after negotiations for the post between BN and PN went on for two days.

Hajiji, the newly elected Sulaman assemblyman, was PN’s choice for chief minister, while BN had wanted Bung for the top post.