BERSATU president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin appears to be losing the top role in Perikatan Nasional (PN) after the recent move orchestrated by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, says an UMNO man.
Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said such a move startled many political groups because no one expected Hadi to have such political foresight, and it is clear that Hadi wants to keep the momentum of the “green wave” going and reap its gains.
“We cannot blame the PAS supremo for choosing Dr Mahathir because the political track record of Dr Mahathir is far more impressive,” Salleh said in a Facebook post today (Sept 22).
According to the former Sabah chief minister, that is the reason why Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim does not take Muhyiddin as a serious threat.
“Hadi is determined to keep gains made by PAS in the last general election (GE15) and state elections, as he wants to keep the momentum of the ‘green wave’ going,” Salleh added.
Salleh went on to claim that Muhyiddin, who is also the PN chairman, is unlikely to take such developments lying down due to the latter’s politically ambitious nature.
“Therefore, do not eliminate the possibility of Muhyiddin to explore and consider other political options.
“I believe that just like Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin also believes that in politics there is no permanent enemy. He is still the Bersatu president.
“He has to rely on himself to safeguard his political interests and ambitions,” the former Kota Belud MP said.
On Sept 2, Dr Mahathir had met with a top-level PAS delegation, including menteris besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud (Kelantan), Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (Terengganu), Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (Kedah) and Mohd Shukri Ramli (Perlis) to discuss economic development in the four PN-controlled states.
On Sept 14, Samsuri said an action plan for the group that’s been called the “SG4” or “state government four” was in the works, with Dr Mahathir set to serve as their unofficial adviser.
Salleh, who is also the Usukan assemblyman, said on Monday (Sept 18) that Dr Mahathir appointment as “SG4” unofficial adviser was simply the first of many bigger moves to come.
“Dr Mahathir is a very smart politician; he is smarter than most of us. He wants to have a more effective influence over the political domain so that he can undermine the Prime Minister’s control and influence.
“He is a master at this kind of game, and I salute him for that.” – Sept 22, 2023
