FORMER Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s appointment as advisor to “State Government 4” or SG4, essentially establishing himself as the de facto leader of Perikatan Nasional (PN), was simply the first of many bigger moves to come, says an UMNO man.
Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak claimed that such moves would be significant and meaningful only if Dr Mahathir could win a seat in Parliament and subsequently become the leader of the opposition.
“He would have correctly used his appointment as the economic advisor to SG4 to convince all PAS members of his sincerity,” Salleh said in a Facebook post today (Sept 18).
“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.”
The former Sabah chief minister believed this is what Dr Mahathir is thinking about, and his corresponding move may eventually lead to a political crisis larger than Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 2015 political crisis.
In 2015, Najib who was then-prime minister was involved in a scandal where investigators had found that nearly US$700 mil (RM 2.67 bil) from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) state fund was transferred into Najib’s bank accounts.
Salleh added that PAS would not have supported Dr Mahathir unless it believed that he could help PN regain federal power.
“In politics age and ambition has no limit, and therefore do not underestimate the will of an old man. When dealing with an adversary, it is not only his actions but his intentions that have to be watched. If one does not act first, one will suffer first,” the former Kota Belud MP said.
Salleh, who is also the Usukan assemblyman said that the nonagenarian could even become prime minister again if all his enemies regard this as impossible and remain off guard.
On Thursday night (Sept 14), Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said an action plan for the group that’s been called the “SG4” was in the works, with Dr Mahathir set to serve as their unofficial adviser.
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 adviser focusing primarily on effective governance to ensure the proposed grouping will be managed efficiently.
“Dr 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, Dr 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 18, 2023
Main pic credit: Facebook/Salleh Said Keruak
