Sabah opposition divided on ‘chief whip’

Speculations are rife that it will be either Lajim Ukin or Wilfred Bumburing.

KOTA KINABALU: Now that the 60 elected assemblymen have been sworn in, the next big question here is who will be the chief opposition whip when the Sabah Legislative Assembly (DUN) begins its sitting on Monday?

After a long time, the DUN will see just over 20% of its seats occupied by the opposition – peninsular-based Pakatan Rakyat and local boy Sabah State Reform Party (STAR).

Pakatan’s PKR and DAP  won 12 seats while STAR took away one from Barisan Nasional. In the 2008 general election BN only lost one seat to DAP.

As of yesterday, when the 60 took their oath before the Speaker Salleh Said Keruak, there was still no news on who it will be.

Speculations are however rife that it will be either Klias assemblyman Lajim Ukin or Tamaparuli representative Wilfred Bumburing.

Both are not actual PKR members but stood on the party ticket in the May 5 general elections.

Lajim and Bumburing have their own respective political platforms – PPPS and APS – which are awaiting registration.

Both of them quit Umno and Upko respectively last July and threw their contentious support behind PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The Sabah Pakatan opposition bloc is however  divided over Lajim and Bumburing.

Lajim had told reporters that the opposition representatives will be meeting soon to decide on who will lead the “team” in the august house.

“The opposition block will be meeting again and we will submit a name by Monday,” he said.

When pushed further about rumours that PKR wanted him to lead, Lajim said: “Yes, they have asked me.

“If I have everyone’s vote and given the opportunity, then I will accept the responsibility.”

Lajim, who was once a  Sabah deputy chief minister, said the opposition bloc would closely monitor the the government’s actions.

“We will speak for the people and point out any weaknesses,” he said.

Meanwhile Salleh when asked about the increased opposition voice in DUN said it “won’t make a difference”.

“I believe there will be a healthy debate among all members of the House and they are free to share their views  as long as it is conducted professionally based on the Standing Order,” he said.

Asked about the “unprecedented” position of Opposition Leader, Salleh said it was not a procedural matter and was based on ‘conventional selection’.

“If they (opposition reps) want to do so, they are free to submit a proposal to us and action will be taken according to their terms.

“But to date, they have yet to submit anything to us,” he said.