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Kuala Lumpur: A Malaysian deputy minister became the third junior minister to quit this month, adding to pressure on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after his ruling coalition suffered a severe setback at March 8 polls.
Ghapur Salleh, who was deputy environment minister, submitted his resignation to Abdullah on Wednesday, state news agency Bernama reported.
But he was quoted as saying that he would remain as a lawmaker in Abdullah's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the dominant party in the coalition, dismissing talk that he would defect to the opposition.
Asked why he decided to quit, eight days after accepting the post, the 64-year-old Ghapur said: "I don't want to be tied down with the duties of a deputy minister."
The minor parties of Sabah and Sarawak ensured Abdullah's Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition clung to power in the election, which gave UMNO the fright of its life.
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