Ex-deputy minister Lajim Ukin dies from Covid-19

 

Former deputy minister Lajim Ukin has passed away at the age of 66, five days after being placed in a medically induced coma due to having contracted Covid-19.

Bersatu supreme council member Lajim had been warded at the KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital in Kota Kinabalu since Aug 13.

It was reported that a day before his hospitalisation, he had followed Chief Minister Hajiji Noor to visit Kudat and when he was at home at night, he had complained of feeling unwell.

The late Lajim was also executive chairperson of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, which confirmed his passing in a condolence message to his family.

In a long political career, Lajim was the MP for the Beaufort constituency in Sabah from 2008 to 2013, and deputy transport minister from 2008 to 2009 as well as deputy housing and local government minister from 2009 to 2012.

He was a six-term state assemblyperson for Klias, having first won the seat in 1986 when he was with Parti Bersatu Sabah. He left PBS for Umno in 1994 and was also opposition leader in the Sabah state assembly from 2013–2016 when he was with PKR.

 - Mkini