KOTA KINABALU: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin is not surprised at the resignation of its state assemblyman for Kadamaian, Jeremy Malajad @ Malazad.
He said that Jeremy’s move was something they had expected for quite sometime.
Lajim when contacted to comment on Jeremy’s announcement that he had quit the PKR and declared himself an independent, said that the latter’s move reflected his lack of commitment to the party and the people.
“He (Jeremy) must remember that it is the constituents in Kadamaian who gave him the trust and mandate to be their voice even though they are aware of the fact that they will not be getting much assistance from the government if they are in the opposition.
“Jeremy is aware of the fact that there will also be no allocation for development or political appointment as he is an elected representative from the opposition,” Lajim said.
Jeremy announced his decision to quit PKR in the presence of 50 Kadamaian PKR members who had also resigned from the party.
He said that he was ditching the opposition party to ensure that his constituents would fully benefit from the development programmes of the Barisan Nasional-led Sabah government.
Lajim added Jeremy had met him on several occasions to ask him about the appointment of a Ketua Kampung or JKKK chairman and he informed him that as an opposition elected representative, he has no local standi to appoint any community leaders.
“He fully understands all this so why is he saying that he is leaving PKR because of the people’s aspirations? I am of the opinion that Barisan Nasional (BN) is behind this move,” Lajim claimed.
On the allegation by PKR Matunggong assemblyman Jelani Hamdan that Lajim had sidelined Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) leaders in the state PKR line-up, Lajim pointed out that it was inaccurate for Jelani to say so.
“I am of a Bisaya descent which means I am a KDM, Jelani is the vice state chairman. In fact, there are two KDM vice state chairmen. The state PKR secretary as well as treasurer are both from the KDM community.
“So how can he claim that the KDM community leaders are sidelined? As PKR is a multi-racial party and with so many leaders representing the KDM, I feel that it is only fair that I appoint Christina Liew, a very senior member in PKR as a deputy state chief and she represents the Chinese community,” he stressed.
Lajim is of the opinion that Jelani’s reason for wanting to leave the party was unreasonable because no state KDM leaders are being sidelined.