Prinsip harus kekal bukan ubah ikut angin politik, kata Salleh

Veteran Umno member from Sabah, Salleh Said Keruak, has emphasized that while political alignments and allies may change with the shifting winds of political currents, fundamental principles should remain steadfast as a guiding compass. In a recent statement, the former Sabah Chief Minister noted that political stances and associations can change in response to evolving political landscapes, but principles from yesteryears may become hindrances today.

The explanation often revolves around the four P's of politics: politics, parties, principles, and personal interests. Politics determines strategy, parties provide justification, principles serve as arguments to the public, and personal interests occasionally offer genuine explanations, as he shared via a Facebook post. Salleh stressed that while flexibility and compromise are essential in politics, being flexible in strategy is not the same as being flexible in principles.

He elaborated that when appropriate, collaboration is referred to as the maturation of politics, while competition is upheld in the name of principles. He acknowledged that both can be justified in their own ways. According to him, politics, parties, and personal interests can change, but principles should remain constant as a compass, not something adapted every time the political winds change.

The question, therefore, is not about who is right or wrong. The real question is: What truly determines the decision of today?