Friend or no, we will still fight you, Sabah Umno chief tells Salleh

Jason Santos Jason Santos Updated 4 years ago · Published on 6 Oct 2019 1:19PM · 7 Comments

Sabah Umno chief Bung Mokhtar Radin reflects on his friendship with Salleh Said Keruak, who has gone from being a ‘good friend’ to being a ‘political foe’. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 6, 2019.

SALLEH Said Keruak might be his friend but Sabah Umno chief Bung Mokhtar Radin would not let that get in the way of a good brawl in the political arena.

Bung told The Malaysian Insight Salleh had the democratic right to join any party he wished and that he still regarded his former party colleague as a “good friend.”

“I believe Salleh is smart enough to make his own decisions on his political career. I just want to say good luck to him,” Bung said.

“Friends will be friends, but we will still fight as political foes,” said Bung, repeating the Umno battlecry not to go easy on friends or former party mates.

Bung, who is the Kinabatangan MP, was appointed Sabah Umno liaison chief in December following a mass departure of members, including Salleh, led by Sulaman assemblyman and now Sabah Bersatu chief Hajiji Mohd Noor.

Prior to his departure from Umno, Salleh was the party treasurer and Sabah Umno deputy chairman. He had also been appointed to the Umno Supreme Council in June.

He and former Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, who was part of the December exodus, subsequently joined United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) but rumours soon flew of their joining PKR next. Pandikar had denied it at the time.

Pundits have questioned why Salleh had not been admitted into Bersatu like most of the ex-Sabah Umno leaders. It is speculated that it is because the former Najib Razak apologist had been a fierce critic of Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

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.

Earlier today, Salleh revealed on his blog that he had joined PKR because of its multicultural and progressive nature.

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

His membership, however, is not a done deal, according to the PKR leadership, who said they will evaluate his application. – October 6, 2019.
 

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Comments

  • Sampah lawan sampah.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mahsuri Sighs · Reply

  • This Keruak was Najib dog's mouth piece and to have him in PKR doesn't goes down well within PKR. A man whose tongue wags where the money is and to safe his own bloody skin, a man of no principal and minister who dance on the streets. A real bastard to the core.

    Posted 4 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • Salleh Keruak is an opportunist. He thinks Anwar will be the next PM so he jumps ship.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • It says a lot about Najib actually. This arsehole was strongly supporting DS Optimus but now...

    Posted 4 years ago by [email protected] Thirunavakarasar · Reply

  • It says a lot about Najib actually. This arsehole was strongly supporting DS Optimus but now...

    Posted 4 years ago by [email protected] Thirunavakarasar · Reply

  • It says a lot about Najib actually. This arsehole was strongly supporting DS Optimus but now...

    Posted 4 years ago by [email protected] Thirunavakarasar · Reply

  • It says a lot about Najib actually. This arsehole was strongly supporting DS Optimus but now...

    Posted 4 years ago by [email protected] Thirunavakarasar · Reply