Latest news with #Salleh
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Umno won't field candidates in PH-held Kota Kinabalu seats
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Umno will not contest any seats in the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary constituency in the upcoming state election, as part of its commitment to the cooperation between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH). Sabah Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said the party would instead support candidates from its coalition partners in the seats within the parliamentary constituency. The Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat, along with the Api-Api, Likas, and Luyang state seats, is currently held by PH representatives. "We are supporting our coalition partners, particularly PH," he said during the Umno Kota Kinabalu division delegates' meeting at the party headquarters here. "Although Umno does not contest in urban constituencies such as Kota Kinabalu, the party must continue to speak up on issues affecting the people. "Umno is a platform to serve the public, engage with communities, and address the real challenges faced by the people," he added. The former Sabah Chief Minister said that BN and PH, as part of their electoral pact, are now seeking local parties that share their vision for Sabah. "We are not only considering which seats to contest, but also focusing on policies that all parties can agree on. "Secondly, we are exploring a political settlement concept. To me, this is very important and can be achieved by Sabahans themselves." However, the Usukan assemblyman excluded Parti Warisan from the equation, as the party had announced its intention to go solo in Sabah polls. Earlier, Salleh urged Umno in Kota Kinabalu to continue playing a strategic role by shaping political narratives, engaging urban youth, and assisting coalition partners in the upcoming state election.
Borneo Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Sabah BN mulls inclusive power-sharing formula for fairer representation
Salleh KOTA KINABALU (June 22): Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) is exploring a new power-sharing formula aimed at ensuring fair political representation among the state's diverse communities. Sabah Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said discussions are ongoing within the coalition to refine this approach. 'I would also like to mention the power-sharing system that BN is currently exploring. It's not just about power-sharing — we are also looking at political accommodation,' he said. Salleh stressed that no single party should act as the dominant force within the coalition. 'We should engage in discussions that take into account the needs of both Muslim and non-Muslim Bumiputera. We need a formula that can satisfy everyone. We are committed to addressing this,' he said, after officiating the Sabah Umno Kota Kinabalu division meeting. He added that BN is working on a draft commitment for the people of Sabah to tackle the state's fundamental issues — an effort he personally pledges to lead. When asked about the specifics of the proposed formula, Salleh said discussions with coalition partners are still ongoing but pointed to previous models as reference. 'Looking back at our past, we had a formula that considered both Muslim and non-Muslim Bumiputera,' he said. Recalling his tenure as Sabah Chief Minister, Salleh cited the education sector as an example of successfully balanced representation. 'When I was Chief Minister, I introduced a scholarship quota system approved by the Cabinet — 40 per cent for Muslim Bumiputera, 40 per cent for non-Muslim Bumiputera, and 20 per cent for non-Bumiputera. 'However, despite the quota, everything remained merit-based. This is an example of what we have done before,' he explained.
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Sabah BN proposes new power-sharing formula
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) is exploring a new power-sharing formula that aims to ensure fair political representation among Sabah's diverse communities. Sabah Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said there are ongoing discussions within the coalition about the matters. "I would also like to mention the power-sharing system that BN is currently exploring. "It is not just a matter of power-sharing; we are also looking at political accommodation. "We feel that in any coalition, no party should act like a 'big brother'. "We should discuss so that we can consider Bumiputera as both Muslim Bumiputera and non-Muslim Bumiputera. "We need a formula that can satisfy everyone. "We will address this, and we are making a commitment to look into it," he said after officiating Sabah Umno Kota Kinabalu division meeting here. Salleh said BN is preparing a draft commitment for the people of Sabah to tackle the state's fundamental issues, which he personally pledges to lead. Asked about the specific formula he has in mind, Salleh said that discussions with coalition partners are still ongoing. However, he pointed to past models as a guide. "When we look at our past, we have ensured a formula that considers both Muslim Bumiputera and non-Muslim Bumiputera," he said. Recalling his tenure as former Sabah chief minister, Salleh cited the education sector as an example where balanced representation was successfully implemented. "When I was the Sabah chief minister, I came up with a formula for scholarship were approved by the cabinet. "I had a quota system back then where 40 per cent of scholarship were allocated to muslim Bumiputera, 40 per cent to non-Muslim Bumiputera, and 20 per cent non Bumiputera. "But everything was still merit-based, despite the quota. "This is an example of what we have done before," he said.
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
BN will work hard to recapture Kukusan seat – Salleh
The participants of one of the RTR Kukusan activities. KUKUSAN (June 17): Barisan Nasional (BN) is determined to recapture the Kukusan state seat in the upcoming state election after losing narrowly in the last election, said Sabah BN treasurer Datuk Sri Dr Salleh Said Keruak. He described the seat as winnable and strategically important for BN in the east coast of Sabah. 'The loss last time was by a small margin. That tells us the people of Kukusan are still with us — we just need to work harder and stay consistent in our outreach,' he said after attending the Radu Tatap Radu grassroots engagement program held in Kukusan on Tuesday. Salleh emphasized that BN's strategy moving forward will focus on strengthening its grassroots machinery, understanding the people's concerns, and offering practical solutions — especially in areas such as infrastructure, job creation and public services. 'Through programs like Radu Tatap Radu, we are not just reconnecting with voters — we are rebuilding trust and reaffirming our commitment to serve. This is part of our long-term effort, not a seasonal campaign,' he added. The BN treasurer also noted that cooperation under the Unity Government will allow BN to bring more development and stability to Kukusan and the surrounding areas. Among the activities lined up for the program were the distribution of engine oil to motorcyclists by Umno Youth Kalabakan, a morning Zumba session and telematch games organized by Puteri Umno Kalabakan, a cooking demonstration by Wanita Umno Kalabakan, culminating in the grand finale — 'Malam Santai PDM Sentosa'.
Borneo Post
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Salleh: Power must be shared, not controlled in Sabah politics
Salleh KOTA KINABALU (June 15): Former Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak has issued a strong reminder to political coalitions in the state: power must be shared fairly, not dominated by a single party. In a statement that underscores the importance of equality and mutual respect among coalition partners, Salleh said no party should act like it is the 'boss' of a coalition. 'In today's politics, no party should act like it's the boss of a coalition. Every party brings its own strength and deserves to be treated as an equal partner,' the Usukan assemblyman said on his Facebook page on Sunday. The Umno Sabah treasurer stressed that successful coalitions are built on shared leadership, collective responsibility, and fair representation not unilateral control. 'A good coalition is built on shared leadership and fair power-sharing — not control by one dominant party. All decisions, responsibilities and representation must be discussed and agreed together,' Salleh said. According to him, what matters most is having a common agenda that all partners support, particularly when it comes to development, good governance and defending Sabah's rights. While he acknowledged the importance of fairly representing Sabah's major communities, Bumiputera Muslim, non-Muslim Bumiputera, and non-Bumiputera, Salleh said that representation alone is not enough without real power-sharing among parties. 'Fair representation of Sabah's main communities is important, but that alone is not enough. Power must also be shared fairly among all coalition partners. Every party must have a real role and a fair say in shaping decisions,' he added. Salleh pointed out that Sabah's political strength lies in its diversity, and a stable coalition must reflect this reality. 'A strong coalition must reflect Sabah's diversity. Every group deserves a voice and a place at the table,' he said. He also emphasised that true stability comes from trust, fairness and inclusion. 'Stability comes from trust and fairness. When everyone feels respected and involved, the coalition becomes stronger and more united,' Salleh said. Calling for a shift in political mindset, he urged parties in Sabah to move away from outdated models of control and towards genuine teamwork. 'It's time to move beyond old ways of thinking. Sabah needs a coalition that works as a team, not one party calling all the shots while others are expected to just follow,' he said.
