The appointment of Lajim Ukin as the deputy minister of housing and local government has been revoked with immediate effect.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office today said that the Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, had given his consent to the revocation of the appointment.

The revocation was made under Clause (3) Article 43A which was read together with Clause (5) Article 43 of the federal constitution.

Last Saturday, Lajim announced his resignation as a member of the Umno supreme council, Beaufort Umno division head, and chairperson of the Beaufort Barisan Nasional with immediate effect.

However, he remained as an Umno member.

When announcing his resignation in Likas Jaya, near Kota Kinabalu, Lajim was later reported to have left it to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to decide on his position as deputy minister of housing and local government.

Later at a function in Pekan, Najib was reported to have said that Lajim's position as deputy minister would be decided on Monday.

Lajim, 57, was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2008 general election, replacing the incumbent for the Beaufort seat, Azizah Mohd Dun after defeating Lajim Md Yusof (PKR) with a majority of 10,914 votes.

Lajim refuses to comment

He was later appointed as the deputy transport minister in 2008 before changing portfolio as deputy housing and local government minister in 2009.

Meanwhile, Lajim Ukin has declined to comment on revocation of his appointment as the deputy minister.

"I have no comments for  the timebeing and will issue a statement at a suitable time," he said in a brief statement today.

Sabah BN secretary Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the revocation of Lajim's appointment as deputy minister was timely.

"The Agong acted correctly. Now the prime minister has to study the scenario and decide to leave the post vacant or fill it."

The Kota Belud MP said Lajim should not criticise Umno but still remain a party member.

Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) information chief Johnny Mositun said it is

the prerogative of the prime minister to appoint or revoke the appointment.

- Bernama

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