Ex-Umno minister Salleh Said Keruak joins PKR

Jason Santos Jason Santos Updated 4 years ago · Published on 5 Oct 2019 7:30PM · 9 Comments

Salleh Said Keruak is Sabah's former chief minister and ex-communications and multimedia minister in the previous Barisan Nasional federal government. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 5, 2019.

FORMER cabinet member and Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak has joined PKR without the knowledge or consent of Sabah PKR’s leadership, according to state party officials.

One leader, Semporna PKR division chief Mohd Amin Abdul Mem, said the former communications and multimedia minister was now a member of the the Kota Belud division, a move that has taken state leaders by surprise.

Amin said the state party leadership and division should have been notified about Salleh’s membership, which is believed to have been approved by PKR at the national level.

Amin, who is also Sabah PKR election director and State Leadership Council member, said Sabah PKR leaders should have a say on such matters as the state chapter had been given autonomy by the central leadership.

“This is unreasonable and goes against the party’s policies and principles.

“The central leaderhip should be more firm and careful when accepting former Sabah Umno leaders,” Amin told The Malaysian Insight.

Salleh’s membership, marked as “approved” in PKR’s online system and sighted by The Malaysian Insight, applied to join PKR on August 25.

Sabah PKR leaders only found out today that his membership had been approved from its online system.

Salleh, alongside former Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, were among five MPs, nine assemblymen and 21 division heads from Sabah Umno who abandoned the BN party late last year. 

Both men joined United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) at first, while rumours spread that they would soon join PKR. Pandikar had denied this at that time.

Speculation had also been rife that the duo would formally join PKR when party president Anwar Ibrahim visited Kota Belud on September 17 for a Malaysia Day event organised by United Sabah Bumis Organisation (Usbo).  

Pandikar is president of Usbo, while Salleh was an adviser. 

Amin said the party needed members willing to fight for reforms, and not politicians concerned only about their political survival.  

“Although Sabah opposition leaders continue to cross over to the ruling parties here, Sabah PKR will not accept such leaders as we must maintain our integrity and respect for the people’s mandate,” he said. 

Salleh was Sabah chief minister for a brief stint in the 1990s. In the 14th general election last year, he contested the Kota Belud parliamentary seat for BN but lost to his cousin, Parti Warisan Sabah’s Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, who is now deputy energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister. 

The Malaysian Insight has contacted Salleh for comments. – October 5, 2019.

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Comments

  • Why accept this trash from Umno? This guy defended Najib and tried to help cover up the 1MDB scandal. I thought Anwar Ibrahim was an uoright man until now. Very disappointing, these politicians who are willing to do a deal with the devil.

    Posted 4 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • Let me ask a stupid question: is this dramatic start of - you scratch my back, I scratch yours and to save some faces or reduced jail term? This guy is the biggest critic of TDM. Is PKR slapping his face so hard??

    Posted 4 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • we voted harapan to get rid of trash like him. apandi, dahlan, keruak etc and now...back to sq one! we are all idiots!

    Posted 4 years ago by . . · Reply

  • There is turmoil brewing within PKR. This is obvious with the recent acceptance of Salleh into the PKR fold - with the notification, or consent by PKR Sabah and Divisional leadership.
    It appears that PKR council went behind their backs because they feared reprisals from state PKR leaders.
    Decisions made under such circumstances are unfounded and undermine the authority of state PKR leadership. They have the right to be upset.
    Whats worse, although Salleh May have been accepted by PKR Council, there will be discontent amongst state leaders. He will be boycotted.
    He might as well move to KL and and be around his new mentor, Anwar.
    Such decisions will cause the state PKR to fight for autonomy as what UMNO SABAH did. Because any approval or nomination of PKR appointees for Sabah may not be made in the interest of the state. Anwar will soon begin to lose his control over PKR in Sabah.
    There will also be growing criticism and discontent against Christina Liew if she continues to support Anwar. The local PKR chapter may raise issues that Christina is a stooge for Anwar - who incidentally may have conflicting thoughts about Sabah.

    Posted 4 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • He is one of those we wanted vanish from the government! What is he capable of other than flattering his boss?

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Although Sabah PKR leaders may have been sincere in their cause (not that the Christina Liew is a saint!), the PKR Council is truly playing politics that may not be in the interest of Sabah when it consented Salleh into its fold.
    The reason is strengthening its foot hold in Sabah is to counter Bersatus increasing presence in the state - Tun Ms hold in the state. Everyone is now jumping the bandwagon to open new branches in the state to increase their presence... Even Warisan, plans to open 1,111 branches within a short time frame.. They are all gearing for GE15. So, who is looking after the well being of the people? Ask Shafie Apdal and he will crap lots of nonsense..

    Posted 4 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • Politic is the possibility of all possibilities. Sad episode bcos voters are so diverse in education, economy, cultures and religions. Democracy is getting crazy.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • A real bastard

    Posted 4 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • ha ha ha Christina Liew...if you have any Maruah Dignity For Sabah......Better off go and talk with DAP and STAR + Whoever wants to Make Sabah Rule with Autonomy....together with Sarawak and have the opportunity to be like Singapore....otherwise...You have condemn Sabah to be Pariah like Kelantan!!..... time is ticking...No need referendrum....Agenda 2020!!

    Posted 4 years ago by Bumi nonmalay · Reply