PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali is anticipating a fierce battle between Pakatan Rakyat and BN following the resignation of Beaufort MP Lajim Ukin and Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing from the ruling coalition.

NONE "This is an interesting development and has an impact on Sabah's politics. Their readiness to join Pakatan shows that a fierce political battle is about to happen," Mustafa said.

He said Pakatan's supreme council would soon discuss the roles of Lajim and Bumburing, particularly in the coming general election.

He said the MPs at their meeting with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim recently had "indicated strong support" for Pakatan.

"We will discuss about their position. Principally, they are with Pakatan in fighting the BN," he told a press conference after Pakatan's secretariat council meeting today.

Just two days ago, the two MPs formally pledged their support for the opposition coalition, after leaving BN.

Mustafa said that Pakatan was now "monitoring and is involved" in a new political scene in Sabah.

He also dismissed claims by a certain party in Umno that the Lajim and Bumburing quit the BN because they were disappointed about being sidelined.

"That is their (BN) standard answer. If they are not useful, they would have been fired a long time ago. Anyway, this speculation is outdated," Mustafa said.

Also at the press conference were former Bukit Aman CID chief Fauzi Shaari, PKR's Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, PAS' Kuala Krai MP Dr Hatta Ramli and DAP's Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong.

Lajim was today officially stripped of his position as deputy housing and local government minister.

He declined comment on this because he has yet to receive any formal notification.

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