FORMER Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia and Umno leader Salleh Said Keruak have thrown their support behind PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister of Malaysia.

However, both said they will not join Anwar’s party.

Pandikar, who is United Sabah Bajau Organisation (USBO) president, is confident that Anwar will bring changes for the country and protect the interests of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

Pandikar, a former Umno man, said he does not need to be a member of PKR to show his support for Anwar. 

“News of our presence here with Anwar will be misinterpreted. It’s apolitical. We are not joining PKR. 

“But how I see it, I don’t need to be in PKR to support Anwar. I don’t need to hold any posts in PKR,” he said during an USBO Malaysia Day event held in Kota Belud, some two hours from Kota Kinabalu, today.

Meanwhile, former communication and multimedia minister Salleh said Anwar is on the right track to save Malaysia from extremist politics. 

“USBO fully supports Anwar to be the next prime minister after Dr Mahathir. 

“Malaysians must choose a leader that could save the country from ruin as there are efforts to hail extreme politics,” said Salleh, who was chief minister from 1994 to 1996. 

Anwar said his presence at the USBO Malaysia Day celebration was not political. 

He said he was affected by the strong support he is getting from the two former Umno leaders.

Pandikar and Salleh were both Barisan Nasional stalwarts when Anwar was the opposition leader. – September 17, 2019.