KOTA KINABALU, Dec. 1 -- More than a day after Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was sworn in as Sabah chief minister, the shape of the new state Cabinet remains unclear - but speculation over key appointments has already intensified as allies, party leaders and independents manoeuvre for a place in the line-up.

Sources say negotiations are still ongoing among Gabungan Rakyat Sabah's (GRS) six components and its partners whose support helped secure the state government.

With no official announcement yet, sources say the state government bloc is most likely to include five Independent candidates previously aligned with GRS, Pakatan Harapan's (PH) sole assemblyman, three assemblymen from the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) and one fr...