KOTA KINABALU: Perikatan Nasional (BN) chairman and former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s grip on the coalition party has begun to weaken.
Former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said it appears that Muhiddyin is losing the top role in the PN Coalition with the recent move by Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said the move surprised many political quarters because no one expected Hadi to have such political foresight.
“It is therefore apparent that Hadi would like to keep the momentum of the green wave going and continue to reap its gains.
“We cannot blame the PAS supremo for choosing Tun Mahathir because the political track record of Tun Mahathir is far more impressive.
“That’s why PMX correctly does not take Muhyiddin as a serious threat,” he said in his latest Facebook posting.
According to the former Communications and Multimedia Minister, Hadi is determined to keep what PAS gained during the recent PRU and PRN.
“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,” he added.
Therefore, Salleh said the people should not eliminate the possibility for Muhyiddin to explore and consider other political options.
“I believe that, just like Tun Mahathir, Muhyiddin also believes that in politics there is no permanent enemy.
“He is still the President of Bersatu.” “He has to rely on himself to safeguard his political interests and ambitions,” he said.
Salleh said recent political developments may be seen by the think tank group within Pakatan Harapan as “either a political threat or a political opportunity.”
