PKR’S political bureau will discuss the membership of former Umno minister Salleh Said Keruak, who has joined the ruling party without the approval of the local Sabah PKR leadership.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said Salleh had submitted his application to join the party online.

“Based on records, I understand the party did indeed receive a membership application from him online.

“Nevertheless, the PKR political bureau will discuss and consider the matter in its coming meeting,” he said in a statement tonight.

Fahmi was commenting on The Malaysian Insight’s report this evening that Salleh, who was communications and multimedia minister under the previous Barisan Nasional administration, had joined PKR in Sabah’s Kota Belud division.

His membership approval was discovered online and had taken Sabah PKR officials by surprise, as they were not consulted.

According to the party’s online system, Salleh had applied to join PKR on August 25. His membership status is marked as “approved”.

Salleh was Sabah’s chief minister for a stint during the 1990s. He also contested the Kota Belud parliamentary seat in the 14th general election last year but lost.

He and 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. 

Speculation had been rife that both Salleh and Pandikar would join PKR but the latter had denied it. – October 5, 2019.