KUALA LUMPUR – Former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak has posited that Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin might not be above mending bridges with political enemies as a way to advance his political position.
This comes after a recent meeting between former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and prominent PAS figures, including president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.
“How badly Muhyiddin would have taken this new development, we do not know, but we all know how ambitious he is politically. He is unlikely to take this lying down,” Salleh said in a Facebook post today.
“Therefore, do not eliminate the possibility of Muhyiddin exploring and considering other political options. I believe that just like Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin also believes that in politics, there is no permanent enemy.
“(Muhyiddin) is still the president of Bersatu. He has to rely on himself to safeguard his political interest and ambitions,” he added.
Pointing to the meeting between Dr Mahathir and PAS leaders, Salleh said that Muhyiddin appears to be “losing the top role” in PN, with Hadi allegedly seeking to keep the momentum of the “green wave” and continue to reap its gains.
“This move surprised many political quarters because no one expected Hadi to have such political foresight.
“We cannot blame the PAS supremo (Hadi) for choosing Tun Mahathir because Tun Mahathir’s track record is far more impressive (than Muhyiddin’s).”
The meeting, which occurred earlier this month, saw top PAS leaders and the menteris besar of PN-led Kedah, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis calling on Dr Mahathir to discuss economic development in their states.
On September 14, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar announced that Dr Mahathir will act as an unofficial adviser for a grouping of the four state governments under PN, called the State Government Four (SG4).
Previously, Salleh had alleged that Dr Mahathir’s acceptance of the role is a strategic move aimed at destabilising the unity government.
He also claimed that the reason why Muhyiddin was not included in the meeting between Dr Mahathir and PAS leaders is because of a calculated move to position Dr Mahathir as PN’s de facto leader.
As advisor to SG4, Dr Mahathir will be focusing on promoting effective and efficient governance.
Additionally, his role will include facilitating connections between the four states and investors from countries such as Japan and South Korea, with whom he maintains strong ties. – September 22, 2023