PKR has yet to accept the application by former Sabah Umno man Salleh Said Keruak to join the Pakatan Harapan party as there is a process to be followed, said party president Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking to reporters in Sabah after the party’s state convention today, Anwar said the party must also take into consideration the sentiments of the grassroots.

“We have not discussed it yet. There is nothing wrong with anyone entering the party but some consideration must be taken into account.

“There are processes to be followed and we must respect those processes,” Anwar said.

The Port Dickson MP said that he had personally spoken to Salleh about his application to join PKR.

“We are not in a rush. I have contacted him and I said there is no problem but we need to take care of the sentiment. I think there should be no problem.

“Yes, he was (former prime minister Najib Razak’s) stalwart, but when he joins us, he must adhere to our core principles and values as well as the party’s struggle.” 

PKR party sources had last week said the party had accepted the former Umno minister’s membership application and would make an announcement “very soon”.

Salleh applied online to join PKR in August.

He had failed to retain his Kota Belud parliamentary seat in the 14th general election last year and quit Umno in December.

Last Friday, Sabah PKR chairman Christina Liew had said Salleh would be welcomed should he forgo his “Umno principles”.

Salleh, who is also former Sabah chief minister, had said he wanted to join PKR as the multiracial party shared his perspective and reflected the political atmosphere in the state well.

He also expressed his desire to help PKR bring back progressive politics, with stability and moderation as the main priorities. – October 28, 2019.