Najib off to Sabah to pre-empt more resignations: Also insists Rafizi deserved arrest

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is confident that Umno and Barisan Nasional's position is not being threatened by the resignation of Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin and issues involving certain Sabah BN component parties.

The prime minister said Umno and BN were capable of handling the challenges and taking appropriate measures to overcome the situation.

"There have been a lot of rumours and speculation flying around. What is important is for us to take suitable measures to heal the situation and to strengthen Umno and BN's position."

Najib, who is also Umno president and BN chairman, said this at a press conference after chairing an Umno Supreme Council meeting at Menara Dato Onn, here, Friday.

Also present were Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Deputy division chief to take over from Lajim

On Lajim' resignation as Beaufort Umno division chief, Najib said based on the party constition, the division's deputy chief Isnin Aliasnih would be acting chief.

"We've also decided that the Sabah Umno Liaison Committee observe the running of the division and render whatever assistance needed to ensure Umno's strength there is not affected," he said.

Asked on Lajim's membership in Umno, Najib said it would go through the due process while the party was still waiting for the reply within two weeks to the show-cause letter issued to him.

On July 28, Lajim announced his resignation from his posts as Umno Supreme Council member, Beaufort Umno division head and Beaufort BN chairman with immediate effect.

Lajim who announced his resignation in Likas Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, was reported to have left it to the prime minister to decide on his position as housing and local government deputy minister.

On July 31, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah gave his consent to the revocation of Lajim's deputy minister post.

GE-13

Asked whether this issue would delay the holding of the 13th general election, Najib said: "It will not delay the plan to hold the elections." "We don't know when the elections will be held. Whether next year or this year.

"Cannot assume it's this year, can be next year, or the other way round," he said. On talks that opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was offering Lajim to contest in the coming elections on an opposition ticket, Najib said: "That's normal. That's his (Anwar) job. It's normal for him to make promises."

Off to Sabah to unveil RCI

On a related development, Najib said he would be going to Sabah on Aug 11 to meet the people and BN leaders there.

While there, he will also announce details on the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry on Illegals in Sabah.

Rafizi deserved arrest

Asked about public perception towards the government over the arrest of Parti Keadilan Rakyat strategy director Mohd Rafizi Ramli, who exposed confidential banking accounts of National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC), Najib declined to comment as the case is going through the legal process.

However, the prime minister said if someone had secret informaton on something (alleged malpractice), he should bring it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission instead of revealing it to the public.

"Because if you reveal, then you are going against Bafia (Banking and Financial Institutions Act)...and the reason why Bafia is there is to protect the integrity and credibility of the financial system.

"Because anyone who has an account in the financial system must feel that he or she is well protected, otherwise people will not put money in the system and that is against public interest.

"But it doesn't mean we will condone corruption or money laundering because you can always reveal those information to the appropriate authorities," he said.

-- BERNAMA