Najib will determine candidates, says Salleh
KOTA KINABALU: Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said candidates for the upcoming 14th general election (GE14) would be determined by Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno president.
“The competitions will be among the political parties and candidates will be chosen by the president (Najib). To me, whoever is selected by the president, we have to give our full support to ensure a big victory for BN in Sabah,” Salleh replied to a question of his chances to become a candidate in Kota Belud, when met at the International Bajau Conference 2018 at the Pacific Sutera Harbour here yesterday.
“The ones that compete are parties and not individuals. We are practising party system in Malaysia. Our job as leaders is to be in a team to determine the strength of the party,¨ he added.
Commenting on the event, Salleh commended the Kota Belud Bajau Sama Language and Culture Association's initiative to hold such a conference which could strengthen relations between neighbouring countries.
“The International Bajau Sama Conference is first held here in KK (Kota Kinabalu) and I am very happy with this conference as it can be seen the similarity of the Bajau community in Malaysia and also in other countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia.
“Such conference can also strengthen the relationship between these three regions with the aim to develop their respective countries for a good purpose. I am very pleased that this association has carried out such initiatives,¨ said Salleh who represented Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman at the conference.
The event was held for two days (March 10 and 11) and four speakers from Indonesia and USA presented their paperworks in the first session regarding Bajau Sama traditions, language and culture which are also present in the Philippines and Indonesia.