Barisan unaffected

By ILI LIYANA MOKHTAR | news@nst.com.my

SABAH AFFAIRS: Ruling coalition unfazed by Lajim’s exit

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan nasional (Bn) is capable of handling political moves such as the exit of Beaufort member of parliament Datuk seri Lajim Ukin with steps to be taken to fortify its position in sabah.

Bn chairman Datuk seri najib razak said yesterday the coalition would not be affected by Lajim’s resignation. “We are confident in facing this challenge and we will take steps to fortify our position in sabah,” he said after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting last night.

Najib addressed a number of Lajim-related questions from the media who, among others, asked if it could delay the election.

The prime minister said it was impossible to delay anything as the date for the general election had not been set.

“We will not delay, but then again, when is the election? it could be this year, it could be next year.”

Last week, Lajim announced that he was resigning as an Umno supreme council member, Beaufort Umno division chief and Beaufort Bn chairman with immediate effect. najib said the party’s supreme council had decided that Lajim’s deputy, Datuk isnin aliasnih, would act as division chief for the time being.

“He (Lajim) will go through due process and he has been given a show-cause letter. in politics, this is how it is.” On claims that more Bn component party members were about to defect, namely from Upko and Parti Bersatu sabah (PBs), najib said: “it’s fine, so far, it is just rumours. What is most important now is that our position is not threatened and we are capable of handling this.”

Najib said that details of the royal Commission of inquiry (rCi) into sabah’s illegal immigrant problem will be announced on Aug 11 following his meeting with Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders.

"I will announce it on the 11th (of August) when I meet with them on the day," he said, when asked for a date.

Commenting on the arrest of Parti Keadilan Rakyat strategic director Mohd Rafizi Ramli and the charges against him, Najib said the information that he had should have been revealed to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, instead of to the public.

"Whoever has information should reveal it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. It is not to be revealed to the public because if you reveal it to the public, you are going against the Banking and Financial Institutions Act.
"It is also a question of security. For instance, if people overseas want to invest in Malaysia, they would want to know that their financial documents and accounts are well protected," he said, adding that this does not mean that the government condones corruption.

Earlier this week, Rafizi was arrested and charged with disclosing four confidential banking documents relating to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp).

On another matter, Najib said the supreme council had agreed to recommendations made to restructure the education system through the educational transformation plan.

"Details of the restructuring will be announced on Sept 11," he said

Umno chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak (right) and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, at the Umno supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Rosdan Wahid

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Barisan unaffected

SABAH AFFAIRS: Ruling coalition unfazed by Lajim’s exit

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