A FORMER federal minister claimed the recent move by Perikatan Nasional (PN) to make Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad an unofficial advisor to a grouping of opposition-controlled state is actually a move to make the former premier the coalition’s de facto leader.
According to Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak, this was why PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was not invited to a meeting between the elderly statesman and several PAS leaders earlier this month.
“I must say that it’s a brilliant move by Dr Mahathir if his real intention is to be in the political forefront again despite the setback in Langkawi during the 15th general election (GE15),” Salleh said in a Facebook post.
“I believe (Muhyiddin) has limited options but to play along with whatever decision made by the PAS-led PN on the appointment of Dr Mahathir.”
At GE15 in November last year, recall that the 98-year-old veteran politician suffered an unexpected setback when he lost his Langkawi seat to PN’s Suhaimi Abdullah.
Last night (Sept 14), Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said an action plan for the group that’s been called the “State Government 4” or “SG4” was in the works.
Last night, Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said a grouping of PN-led states known as “state government four” or “SG4”, was in the works.
The PAS vice-president said state government leaders from Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis had agreed in principle to work together with Dr Mahathir as its unofficial advisor focusing primarily on effective governance to ensure the proposed grouping will be managed efficiently.
“Mahathir’s role is also to connect the four states with investors from countries like Japan and South Korea that have good ties with him,” Ahmad Samsuri was quoted by a portal after an event in Terengganu on Thursday (Sept 14).
On Sept 2, Mahathir had met with a top-level PAS delegation, including the menteris besar of the four states.
Present at the 90-minute meeting were PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, menteris besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud (Kelantan), Samsuri, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (Kedah) and Mohd Shukri Ramli (Perlis). – Sept 15, 2023
