In a Facebook post, the former Sabah chief minister also thanked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor for his appointment to the post.
At the ceremony at Istana Negara earlier today, Musa was also conferred the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara award which carries the “Tun” title.
Musa’s appointment as the Sabah governor is for four years, effective Jan 1, 2025, until Dec 31, 2028. He replaces Juhar Mahiruddin, whose term expires on Dec 31. Juhar was appointed to the post on Jan 1, 2011.
Musa, 73, was Sabah’s longest-serving chief minister. He first took his oath of office as the state’s 14th chief minister on March 27, 2003, and held the top post for five consecutive terms until May 12, 2018.
He was Sungai Sibuga assemblyman for six terms from 1994 to 2020 and has held key positions, including that of state finance minister.
Born on March 30, 1951 in Beaufort, Musa’s political debut came in the state election in 1990. He represented the United Sabah National Organisation for the Sugut seat in Sandakan but did not win.
The seasoned politician played a crucial role in Umno’s expansion in Sabah and was appointed as Sabah Umno pro-tem treasurer. He was also the Libaran Umno chief before being appointed as the state Barisan Nasional treasurer in 1992.
The 1994 Sabah election was key in Musa’s political career as he was selected to represent BN for the first time and secured the Sungai Sibuga seat in a four-cornered fight.
He defended the state seat for six terms and was Sabah Umno chief from 2013 to 2018.
Musa also has extensive knowledge and is adept in the business sector, having served as Sabah Economic Development Corporation executive chairman, Yayasan Sabah chairman, Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd CEO and Sabah Softwood Sdn Bhd chairman.
He also held positions as the Universiti Malaysia Sabah pro-chancellor, Sabah Football Association president and Sabah Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce president.
He has a masters in business administration from Edith Cowan University, Australia.
He is married to Faridah Tussin, with whom he has three sons and a daughter.