Umno MP denies jumping ship rumour

Salleh Kalbi quashes the rumour, saying even if he is not nominated to defend his Silam seat in the next polls, he will remain loyal to Umno.

LAHAD DATU: Silam MP Salleh Kalbi has denied allegations that he is prepared to move to the opposition if he is not nominated as the Barisan Nasional candidate in the coming general election.

He also denied having met with any opposition leaders recently to discuss the matter.

He believed that such speculations by Silam Umno members was aimed at reducing his chances of being re-nominated as a candidate.

“I had told Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman that I will not cross over to the opposition after such allegations surfaced recently.

“No matter what happens, I will remain with BN and Umno,” he stressed.

As the guest of honour in a fund raising activity organised by San Long Dian temple here, Salleh made it a point to tell the media present that lies were being spread about him and those doing so had an agenda against him.

The speculation surfaced after Salleh failed to secure any post within the Silam Umno division recently.

With the crossover of two other BN leaders to the opposition last month, word spread that Salleh had secret discussions with PKR here.

It is understood that some PKR members here held an open survey of Salleh’s popularity should he represent the opposition in the coming general election.

A close aid to Umno Silam division chairman Nasrun Mansur said the party had received such information and would leave it to the top leadership to decide on this matter.