Lajim to set up new political party in Sabah

The new party, if approved, will field candidates for the coming general election.

KOTA KINABALU: Former Umno supreme council member Lajim Ukin will set up a new political party as a vehicle to field candidates in the upcoming general election.

He said a formal application for that purpose would be submitted to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) within the next 10 days.

“If approved by ROS, we will be contesting under the new party,”  he told a news conference, here, today.

Lajim, who formed a non-governmental organisation called Pakatan Angkatan Rakyat (PPS) recently, however, declined to divulge the name of the new party, only saying “it is a new political party”.

The former deputy housing and local government minister said should ROS reject the application, he and his supporters would likely contest on a Pakatan Rakyat coalition member’s ticket.

“We already have the logo and constitution drawn up… the leadership line-up is also ready,” he said, adding that the party would be representing the Muslim Bumiputeras of Sabah.

Lajim, 57, had recently announced his resignation as an Umno supreme council member, Beaufort Umno division chief and Beaufort BN chairman with immediate effect and declared his support for Pakatan but remained an Umno member, and as a result, his appointment as a federal deputy minister was later revoked.

- Bernama