Personal ambition comes first for Mahathir, says Salleh

PENGERANG: Personal ambition came first for former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and those who challenged him had paid the price, said Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.

He pointed out Dr Mahathir had caused political instability in Umno before.

He said the party had split during the formation of Semangat 46, while Parti Keadilan had been formed after the sacking of then deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Now, just because he failed to oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Dr Mahathir has set up Parti Pribumi, said Salleh.

He said Umno members should not follow a leader who fought for personal gain.

“We should instead support a leader who puts the party struggles above anything else,” he said during the Pengerang Umno division meeting.

He added there were no reason for members to leave Umno as the party has never swayed from its struggles.

“To criticise is simple but to defend Umno is the real struggle where members, especially at the grassroots level, must fight for the party,” said Salleh, who is also Communication and Multimedia Minister.

In Johor Baru, Wanita Barisan Nasional chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil described Dr Mahathir’s appointment as Pakatan Harapan chairman as a “performance” by the Opposition.

She claimed DAP’s stalwart Lim Kit Siang is the true de facto Pakatan leader who calls the shots.

Pakatan, she said, wanted to show Malay leaders in the frontline to win Malay votes.

“This is why it (DAP) is going along with the wayang kulit played by the Opposition where Malay leaders are put in the frontline.

“But at the end of the day, the one who actually makes the decisions is Lim Kit Siang,” she said after launching the Wanita Gelang Patah division meeting.