Sabah resignations just a 'storm in a teacup': Then why is Najib deferring Sept polls?

The latest resignations by two Sabah BN political leaders have prompted another round of speculation on the dates for the next general election.

The resignation of Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin on Saturday, and the exit of United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) deputy president and Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing from the party, is likely to force the BN's top leadership to delay the polls to the end of the year, from September as widely speculated earlier,Nanyang Siang Pau reported.

Lajim quit all Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) posts, but said his position as deputy minister was at the prime minister's pleasure.

On Monday, he was given a show cause letter by the Umno Supreme Council on why he should not be sacked from the party.

Today, the prime minister removed him from his post as deputy minister with immediate effect.

A Sabah BN source believed Najib would have to relook dates for the polls to ensure Sabah remains its "fixed deposit" which is crucial for the ruling coalition to stay in power.

The source said Najib, who was expected to dissolve the Parliament this month and call for a snap election in September, will now have to change his mind following the sudden turn of events in Sabah.

"Their resignations will not have much impact outside Sabah, but their impact on the local political arena could manifest itself. It is going to affect the BN once the resignations become an issue," the state BN source said in theNanyang report.

Storm in a teacup to Putrajaya

But BN sources in Putrajaya begged to differ about the importance of both leaders quitting, saying what is happening in Sabah is just a storm in a teacup.

They claim that Najib had long known that the two MPs would leave the national front, according to a Sin Chew Dailytoday.

Lajim and Bumburing's fallout with their respective party leaders was an open secret, and their resignations are said to be due to party internal tussles and personal interest, rather than ideological differences or the people's interest. As such, their resignations would not arouse any negative sentiments among the people, said the Sin Chew report.

"The duo's resignations were the culmination of their conflicts with their respective party leaderships. They would not affect BN unity or the sentiments of the people in a state where party-hopping is not uncommon," the report said.