Former Sabah chief minister Salleh Said Keruak has warned his fellow politicians that they have become increasingly unpopular among a public that sees them as selfish, self-serving and constantly embroiled in schemes.

"There is a time for politics, and there is a time to serve.

"It has not gone unnoticed by the rakyat that Malaysian politicians play politics 24-7 and 365 days a year. And the rakyat, those on the ground, are tired of the focus of the politicians on politicking and not on serving the rakyat," Salleh said in a blog post this morning.