KINABALU: Inanam Assemblyman Dr Roland Chia will make an announcement about his political future after Christmas.In a midnight tweet through his handle @RolandChiaMs and Facebook, Dr Chia said: "To Media n Friends. Tks 4ur concern. I am currently abroad. Will make formal media statement after Christmas."

This is the first time the 44-year-old Tawau-born dental surgeon had communicated after announcing on Wednesday his plans to resign from the state seat, which he won in the 2013 general election.

Meanwhile, Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman Datuk Seri Musa Aman believes Dr Chia's intention to quit is caused by internal problems in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

"I believe this has to do with a PKR internal problem. It is very obvious that based on what we read in the media reports, statements made by the party's State leadership council and central leadership on this matter are conflicting each other," he said.

"(So) what we can say is that the PKR house is very much not in order," he told reporters in a press conference held in conjunction with the launch of MyWin Academy Berhad's innovative entrepreneurship programme at the Le Meridien, here, Friday.

On what would be the next step if Dr Chia truly submits an official resignation letter as Assemblyman, Musa, who is also State Umno Chief, said:

"We would discuss and make consideration…I would have a discussion with (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is the Chairman of BN, on this matter."

He said the State Speaker had informed him that he has not received any official resignation letter from Dr Chia, "so actually he (Dr Chia) has not resigned as an Assemblyman for Inanam…so, right now, it is more their internal political problem."

Dr Chia had posted his intention to step down as Inanam Assemblyman in his Facebook account and Twitter on Wednesday, stating "due to health reasons, I will step down as Adun Inanam. I thank the Inanam voters and party leadership for your support over the 17 months."

PKR Sabah, in its response to this the following day, denied that the party's Supreme Council member Dr Chia has stepped down as Inanam Assemblyman.

Its Chairman Datuk Lajim Ukin said he had yet to receive any official resignation letter from Dr Chia.

Lajim also denied that Dr Chia wants to resign as the Assemblyman for Inanam, saying he had checked with the State Speaker who told him he has not receive any letter from Dr Chia on the matter.

Saying the Sepanggar PKR deputy chief had also told him that Dr Chia did not inform the division of his intention to step down, Lajim said he and Dr Chia are also in good terms and that there is no friction between both of them as alleged by certain quarters.

PKR Secretary-General Rafizi Ramli on Friday said Dr Chia's status will remain until he returns from his overseas trip.

Initially he said the party has not received anything from Dr Chia, but later on Friday admitted that Dr Chia had actually written to PKR about his health condition and also his intention to step down.

However, Rafizi said whatever decision taken would be solely be between the two parties – PKR and Dr Chia – and this would be resolved as soon as Chia returns to Malaysia.

"He had earlier written to the party about his health condition, which he described as serious and that he wanted to resign. We told him that we will discuss the matter as soon as he returns and for the time being, his position will remain status quo," he said.