United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) deputy president Wilfred Bumburing and Sabah Umno stalwart Lajim Ukin are widely speculated to attend two PKR-held functions today, amidst much talk that they are defecting to the opposition.
Sabah PKR chief 
Ahmad Thamrin Jaini (left), when contacted today, said the BN duo are very likely to attend the Kaamatan festival celebration in Kota Belud at 3.30pm and the PKR dinner later at 8pm in Kota Kinabalu.
Ahmad Thamrin Jaini (left), when contacted today, said the BN duo are very likely to attend the Kaamatan festival celebration in Kota Belud at 3.30pm and the PKR dinner later at 8pm in Kota Kinabalu.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Sabah at 1.40pm and he is scheduled to attend both the events to make the heavily-rumoured announcement.
Thamrin said the Kaamatan event might be jeopardised by bad weather as roads leading up to Kota Belud are apparently flooded, but not the dinner function which is held in a posh convention centre.
"(Sabah Progressive Party chief) Yong Teck Lee will definitely come to the dinner, and there is a high chance that Lajim and Bumburing will come as well.
"But on what will they do, we cannot confirm," he said in a telephone interview.
Should Lajim (right) and Bumburing move to stand on the same stage with Anwar tonight, it will be a major coup by the Pakatan Rakyat.
Lajim's private secretary confirmed that the deputy transport minister is in Sabah but could not verify his whereabouts, only saying that Lajim will return to KL tomorrow for the Parliament session.
Tian Chua: Not today
However the rumours were squashed by PKR vice president Tian Chua, who said he did not expect the defections, if any, to take place today.
He said Anwar's primary agenda to Sabah this time was to attend ceramah and party functions.
While admitting that there are ongoing discussions with Sabah BN leaders, he said they could choose to be ‘Pakatan-friendly' instead of joining PKR.
"But whether they will pull out from BN as a party ,or join in as individuals, it is up to them," said Tian.
He described the breaking up of Sabah BN as "irreversible", adding that the upper and lower ranks of Sabah BN were crumbling.
Bumburing (left) is the Tuaran MP while Lajim is Beaufort MP. Both served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah before.
Rumours of their impending defection were fueled further by theirappearance at the officiation of the Sabah chapter of Amanah, an NGO led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who has a history of being critical of the BN leadership.
Bumburing currently heads the Sabah chapter of Amanah.
Dua tokoh politik terkenal Sabah dikatakan telah meninggalkan parti dan akan menyertai Pakatan Rakyat, Wilfred Bumburing dan Lajim Ukin masih belum menjadi kenyataan. Masih belum ada maklumat yang mengesahkan bahawa mereka telah keluar dari BN dan menyertai Pakatan Rakyat khasnya PKR.
ReplyDeleteSemua ini masih menjadi khabar angin selagi belum ada pengumuman secara terbuka dan rasmi bahawa mereka telah meninggalkan BN.
ReplyDeleteLajim Ada buat kenyataan bahawa dia akan terus bersama BN, jadi khabar angin itu tidak benar.
ReplyDeleteCerita mengenai ahli keluar parti ini tidak boleh dipercayai selagi tuan punya badan tidak mengumumkan sendiri mengenai perkara ini.
ReplyDeleteMungkin kita akan tahu cerita sebenar dalam sedikit masa lagi
DeleteBanyak kabar angin untuk mengelirukan rakyat.
ReplyDeletekalau ada hasrat mahu keluar, keluar saja la awal2.. jangan tunggu selepas PRU13.. masa itu semua rakyat akan label pemimpin2 lompat ini sebagai gila kuasa atau tamak..
ReplyDeleteThe rumour that Sabah leaders will leave Umno to join the opposition is an opposition tactic, said Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.
ReplyDeleteOngkili, who is also Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said the rumour was aimed at undermining the people’s confidence in Sabah BN leaders.
ReplyDelete“Sabah BN is a united team led by Umno and will continue to be solid…I don’t think there is a basis for the rumour.
ReplyDelete“We tell the people to ignore the rumour. Sabah BN will stick together and will not be enticed by the opposition,” he told reporters after the Kaamatan and Dayak Gawai festival at Limkokwing University.
ReplyDeleteMalaysiakini reported a rumour that Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin and United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) deputy president Datuk Wilfred Bumburing would join the opposition.
ReplyDeleteOngkili said Sabah BN was not disturbed by the rumour. “What is important for Sabah BN is to meet the aspirations of the people. We are trying. Our machinery is already up and is being oiled for implementation,” he said.
ReplyDeleteOngkili was confident that Sabah BN would continue its excellent run in the last general election.
ReplyDelete“Unity continues to be the essence and strength of Sabah BN. We will deliver the two-thirds majority.
ReplyDelete“BN keeps its promise. Based on its track record, BN has delivered in the past and we will continue to be sincere to the people. We will deliver the best to the people,” he said.
ReplyDelete