Barisan's move to team with Pakatan is strategic, Salleh

KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional's move to team up with Pakatan Harapan was a correct and strategic move for the party, says former chief minister Datuk Salleh Said Keruak (pic).

"Barisan and Umno made the right decision in forging an alliance with Pakatan and not with Perikatan Nasional led by Bersatu for its long-term political survival," he said.

He said forging a relationship with Perikatan would curtail Barisan's future in contesting seats now held by Perikatan and Bersatu.

"Had the Barisan-Umno leadership decided to join the Perikatan-Bersatu alliance, Barisan-Umno would not be able to contest the seats held by Perikatan-Bersatu in both the coming state election as well as PRU16," said Salleh, a former federal minister and current Usukan assemblyman.

He said it could be a possibility that a tie-up with Perikatan would see Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin taking backdoor control of Umno with the help of pawns inside the party.

"The alliance with Pakatan and Barisan will allow for Barisan to contest and recover back the seats lost to Perikatan-Bersatu in the coming state election as well as in GE16.

"I believe the combined force of Barisan and Pakatan will wipe out Bersatu and Muhyiddin," he said, adding that all party members must support the decision.