Search This Blog

Monday, April 14, 2014

PKR Sabah internal feuds: Lajim accused of misusing funds

KOTA KINABALU - With the party elections due in less than a month, trouble appears to be brewing in PKR Sabah with a state leader accusing the state liaison chief, Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, of misusing funds.

Deputy PKR Sabah information chief Taufik Ruschi, who made the allegation, has even lodged a police report against Lajim for allegedly misusing the fund which was given by the Menteri Besar of Selangor.

Taufik, the former acting PKR Beaufort division chief, lodged the police report here in the state capital on April 8. He claimed that the Selangor Menteri Besar had given PKR Beaufort division RM100,000 which Lajim had allegedly misused.

Lajim, who won the PKR Beaufort division chief post uncontested, told a press conference yesterday that the Selangor Menteri Besar had in fact donated only RM50,000 to the PKR Sabah natural disaster fund.

“It was only RM50,000 and not RM100,000 as claimed by Taufik and it was to Sabah PKR committee and not the Beaufort division. The money is still in the party’s coffers as we have yet to utilize the donation,” he said.

Lajim added that the donation would have been used to help out flood victims in Sabah but it came about a month after the disaster struck many districts in the state.

“I want to clarify here that the accusation is baseless and slanderous as Taufik was being emotional and I believe it is because he is being challenged for the deputy PKR Beaufort division’s post,” he explained.

According to Lajim, there have been suggestions among PKR Beaufort leaders and members to allow the top posts in the division to be uncontested.

“Three out of the four contesting for the vice chief post have withdrawn and 11 of the 26 nominated for the division’s supreme council posts have also withdrawn their nominations, meaning that these posts are uncontested.

“However, Taufik is being challenged for the deputy chief post and he is not happy with that, so he made a police report against me and I think this could be a way to get me to contact him and then discuss about the deputy post but this is a wrong approach.

“Why report first then discuss, isn’t it supposed to be the other way round? He is angry and too emotional about the matter but he must remember that we can only suggest and if a member wants to contest we cannot deny them their right to do so,” he stressed.

Lajim added that he is now waiting for the police to finish their investigation into the case and if there is any element of fraud, he will be taking legal action against Taufik.

Lajim added that he had explained the matter to the State liaison committee and they now understand the situation.

The state leadership has suggested that Taufik be reported to the party’s Election Committee as well as the Disciplinary Committee for further action.

by Nancy Lai

No comments:

Post a Comment