Sabah Umno will leave it to the party and Barisan Nasional (BN) leadeship to decide on Lajim Ukin's position as an Umno member after he announced his resignation from all posts in the party here yesterday.     

Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, who is also state Umno chief and BN chairman, said the party was aware that Lajim was no longer together in Umno and BN's struggle.      

"So we leave his position to the party and BN leadership," he told a press conference in conjunction with a breaking of the fast ceremony organised by the United Sabah Islamic Association (USIA) at Menara Usia 1Borneo, near Kota Kinabalu, today.     

Musa said this when he was asked to comment on the action of Lajim who resigned as Umno supreme council member, Beaufort Umno division chief and Beaufort BN chairman, effective yesterday.     

Nevertheless, when making the announcement, Lajim was quoted as saying that he would remain as Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister and as an Umno member.      

Musa stressed that any problems in BN and Umno could be discussed and settled together in the spirit of the BN.     

"I often reminded to all the leadership that in our struggle, the party's struggle is important and that our sincerity to the party and leadership is also important, not ourselves.     

‘Departures won’t affect BN support’

He said Umno would continue to cooperate with BN component parties to prepare for the coming general election.     

"It is normal to have differences in opinions on certain matters in any political party coalition or party.     

"But if we are sincere and prepared to give and take, any problem can be overcome. I like to stress that this is not a struggle for certain individuals, what is important is our loyalty to the party struggle," he said.     

Musa said numerous accusations had been made in the media but as Umno and Sabah BN leader he had always given support to Lajim just like to the other Umno and BN people's representatives.     

When asked on the action of United Pasok Momogun Kadazan Dusun Organisation (Upko) deputy president Wilfred Bumburing leaving BN, Musa said: "It is not new, we have long known about the matter but he only made the decision today..it is up to his party."    

Musa said the support of the people towards BN was not affected by the action of Lajim and Bumburing and stressed that there was no crisis in Sabah BN.     

-  Bernama