# Salleh Said Keruak

Md Salleh bin Md Said (Jawi: محمد صالح بن محمد سعيد; born 10 July 1957), commonly known as Salleh Said Keruak, is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly for Usukan from February 1994 to March 2004, from May 2013 to May 2018 and again since September 2020. He served as the Minister of Communications and Multimedia in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Najib Razak from July 2015 to the collapse of the BN administration in May 2018, 9th Chief Minister of Sabah from December 1994 to May 1996, Speaker of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly from December 2010 to July 2015, Senator from July 2015 to July 2018 and Member of Parliament (MP) for Kota Belud from April 1995 to March 2008.

## Educational background

He Is a bachelor's graduate from Simon Fraser University in political science and holds a PhD in political science and government from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

## Career

After finishing his further studies, he was designated as Kota Belud District Officer from 1984 to 1986 and later became a Political Secretary to the sitting Chief Minister's administration from 1986 to 1994.
In addition, he also held some positions in the Cabinet of Sabah. For many years, he served as the Minister of Finance, Minister of Local Government and Housing and Deputy Chief Minister.
On 28 December 1994, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad nominated him as the Chief Minister of the state. His tenure as the state's Chief Minister ended on 28 May 1996 and was succeeded by Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President, Yong Teck Lee.
On 4 January 2010, then-Chief Minister, Musa Aman, appointed him as his government's Science and Technology Adviser with ministerial rank. He succeeded Tham Nyip Shen, a former Deputy Chief Minister for the ethnic Chinese quota who hailed from Keningau.
Later on 31 December of the same year, he was appointed the Speaker of the State Legislature. A day later, on the first day of 2011, he was appointed the Chairman of Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) by the then-Federal Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, Dr. Rais Yatim.
Under the party of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), he previously served Sabah state liaison committee deputy chairperson from 2006 to 2018, serving under the long-term chairmanship of then-Chief Minister, Musa Aman who was concurrently the state liaison committee chairperson from 2003 to 2018 (but now he currently serves as its elections machinery director since the crucial party elections in 2018).
In addition, he also presides over the United Sabah Bajau Organisation (USBO).
On 6 October 2019, he admitted that he submitted a party membership application to the People’s Justice Party (PKR) as the party is multiracial and it is in line with Salleh's political beliefs, especially focusing on the future of the Malaysian state in East Malaysia, Sabah.
On 30 June 2020, he canceled his application to join PKR in the aftermath of the 2020 political crisis. On 9 September 2020, Salleh rejoined UMNO.

## Family

He is the son of Mohammad Said Keruak, the 7th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah and the 4th Chief Minister of Sabah.
He is currently married to Datin Seri Panglima Datuk Raya Erom (born 21 April 1963), an ethnic Kadazandusun woman of Lotud descent from Tuaran, since 18 December 1984. Prior to their marriage, she was a Roman Catholic Christian before converting to Sunni Islam in order to marry Salleh. The couple are blessed with two sons and two daughters: Mohd Syarulnizam (born 1986), Syazeera (born 1988), Mohd Hafeez (born 1996) and Syeera (born 2002).
In addition, Salleh is also the second cousin of Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, the incumbent Kota Belud MP.

## Election results

Parliament of Malaysia :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 1995 | P148 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 17,368 | 62.92% | Herbert Timbun Lagadan (PBS) | 10,237 | 37.08% | 27,920 | 7,131 | 81.71% |
| 1999 | P148 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 7,817 | 62.16% | Saidil Simoi (PBS) | 8,601 | 30.01% | 28,931 | 9,216 | 77.55% |
| 1999 | P148 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 7,817 | 62.16% | Bandira Aling (PAS) | 1,515 | 5.28% | 28,931 | 9,216 | 77.55% |
| 1999 | P148 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 7,817 | 62.16% | Paul Maidom Pansai (IND) | 553 | 1.93% | 28,931 | 9,216 | 77.55% |
| 1999 | P148 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 7,817 | 62.16% | Mul Marif (IND) | 179 | 0.62% | 28,931 | 9,216 | 77.55% |
| 2004 | P169 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 19,290 | 64.93% | James Baga (IND) | 8,869 | 29.85% | 30,794 | 10,421 | 75.20% |
| 2004 | P169 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 19,290 | 64.93% | Jaimin Giau (SETIA) | 1,551 | 5.22% | 30,794 | 10,421 | 75.20% |
| 2018 | P169 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 19,167 | 41.58% | Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (WARISAN) | 23,429 | 50.82% | 47,271 | 4,262 | 82.12% |
| 2018 | P169 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 19,167 | 41.58% | Miasin Mion (PHRS) | 2,092 | 4.54% | 47,271 | 4,262 | 82.12% |
| 2018 | P169 Kota Belud | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 19,167 | 41.58% | Laiman Ikin (PAS) | 1,410 | 3.06% | 47,271 | 4,262 | 82.12% |
Sabah State Legislative Assembly :
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout |
| 1994 | N08 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 6,274 | 61.67% | Datu Badaruddin Datu Mustapha (PBS) | 3,591 | 35.30% | 10,277 | 2,683 | 82.53% |
| 1994 | N08 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 6,274 | 61.67% | Semat Abdul Karim (SETIA) | 159 | 1.56% | 10,277 | 2,683 | 82.53% |
| 1994 | N08 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 6,274 | 61.67% | Salisi Ukoh (IND) | 150 | 1.47% | 10,277 | 2,683 | 82.53% |
| 1999 | N08 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 7,127 | 61.84% | Saidil Simoy (PBS) | 3,503 | 30.40% | 11,652 | 3,624 | 80.21% |
| 1999 | N08 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 7,127 | 61.84% | Mudry Nasir (BERSEKUTU) | 894 | 7.76% | 11,652 | 3,624 | 80.21% |
| 2013 | N08 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 10,879 | 70.85% | Mustapha Sakmud (PKR) | 4,067 | 27.24% | 15,603 | 6,812 | 83.40% |
| 2013 | N08 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 10,879 | 70.85% | Bakhruddin Ismail (STAR) | 285 | 1.91% | 15,603 | 6,812 | 83.40% |
| 2020 | N10 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 8,280 | 65.28% | Abdul Bakhrin Mohd Yusof (WARISAN) | 3,982 | 31.40% | 12,683 | 4,298 | 75.12% |
| 2020 | N10 Usukan | Salleh Said Keruak (UMNO) | 8,280 | 65.28% | Datu Mohd Nazaruddin Datu Tiga Belas (PCS) | 421 | 3.32% | 12,683 | 4,298 | 75.12% |

## Honours

* Sabah :
** Grand Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (SPDK) – Datuk Seri Panglima (1996)
** Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (1990)
** Justice of the Peace (JP) (2015)
* Malacca :
** Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (1996)