(Bernama) - Sabah Umno Deputy Liaison chief Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak today asked Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin (pic) to resign from Umno after having quit as an Umno Supreme Council member, Beaufort Umno Division chief and Beaufort Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman.
"He (Lajim) cannot have it both ways. If he openly disagrees with the party stand or the government stand and he tacitly wants to work with the opposition instead, then he should just quit Umno as a gentleman would," he told Bernama.
Salleh was responding to Lajim's announcement yesterday that he was quitting from the posts but would remain an Umno member and retain the post of deputy housing and local government minister.
He said Lajim should resign gracefully from Umno as he no longer subscribed to the party's goals and policies, and should not wait to be sacked.
"That is exactly what he wants the party leadership to do. He wants to act like a hero and he can (then) go around and tell the people that he was sacked while fighting for the rights of the people.
"That looks to be his game plan, but the people cannot be hoodwinked," he said.
Salleh also dismissed Lajim's allegations that Umno and the BN had not done anything for the welfare of the people of Sabah.
He said Lajim had been part and parcel of the system for some 18 years and was knowledgeable about the government's desire and commitment to turn Malaysia into a developed country by 2020.
"Ironically, he did not complain before. I believe the people are not blind and know what actually had been done by the BN. They are wise enough to make their own judgment on the good performance of the BN in delivering the goods.
"That's why the BN won handsomely in Sabah in the 2008 general election. So, it is incorrect to say now that the BN does nothing for the people, particularly in Sabah," he said.
Lajim, 57, yesterday announced his resignation as an Umno Supreme Council member, Beaufort Umno Division chief and Beaufort BN chairman with immediate effect. He had earlier quit his chief of the Kerambai Kebatu Umno Branch.
He had also said that he was leaving it to the Umno Supreme Council to decide on his party membership and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in respect of his post as deputy housing and local government minister.
Lajim also announced the setting up of the Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPS) or Sabah Reform Front and a line-up of 17 representatives – one for each parliamentary constituency – in the state.
In CYBERJAYA, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin asked Lajim to be a gentleman and resign as an Umno member and as deputy housing and local government minister.
He dismissed claims that Lajim's departure would undermine Umno's influence in Sabah, and said that Sabah Umno and Sabah Umno Youth would remain strong.
Khairy spoke to reporters after delivering a speech at the 1Malaysia Indian Students Summit at Limkokwing University.
