As the battle of perception continues to be waged, with detractors describing it as a futile campaign because of the ruling party’s trust deficit, two politicians from Sabah have, however, remain steadfast at the frontline.

The pair comprise the more junior Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who has been bestowed with the title strategic communications director, and the veteran, former Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak, who helms the communications and multimedia ministry.

In an e-mail interview with Malaysiakini , Salleh explained why he is among those most vocal in defending Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The minister emphasised that a party leader cannot be abandoned in the face of attacks, and pointed out how the opposition reacted in the same manner with PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim.

“You call it ‘defending the prime minister’. I call it ‘defending the party against its enemies’. They are attacking the prime minister, who is also our party president, to try to hurt Umno.

“As party leaders, should we abandon the party president and allow him to fight alone against those who wish to bring him down? Would this not be called a treacherous act?

“How can we be called party leaders and at the same time turn our backs on our party president instead of rallying around him to lend him our support?” he asked.

Similarly, he said the opposition also defended Anwar, who is serving a five-year prison term for a sodomy conviction which he claims is fabricated, when he was attacked.

The minister said some from the opposition had disclosed to him that they defend Anwar not for his sake but because of the party.

“They even argue that whether Anwar is guilty or not is not the issue. The issue is they need to defend the party,” he said.

Like Anwar, Najib has also claimed that the corruption allegations against him are fabricated by those attempting to bring his downfall.

Meanwhile, Salleh stressed that he was vocal even before being appointed to the cabinet last July following a reshuffle which saw Najib axing his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin and another minister critical of him, fellow Sabahan Mohd Shafie Apdal.

“You can see that on my blog. I do not see why I should stop speaking just because I joined the cabinet. I am not, as you said, any more vocal now than what I used to be.

“Maybe it is only now that you noticed me because I am now in the cabinet,” he said.