Salleh said even though it was the party who provided a politician with the opportunity to be an electoral candidate, it was voters “who actually elect us into being an MP or assemblyman”.

“Therefore, we should all analyse and evaluate the issue at hand, see the bigger picture and understand its broader perspective when making a decision in Parliament or the state assembly,” he said in a Facebook post.

Salleh, a former Sabah chief minister, was commenting on the criticisms levelled against Kuala Kangsar MP Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid of Bersatu who recently declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

In justifying the decision, Iskandar said it was meant to ease the burden faced by his constituents over the rising cost of living, adding that allocations would be channelled to MPs backing the unity government’s policies.

Perikatan Nasional, the opposition coalition, is currently mulling action against Iskandar.

Salleh went on to describe Iskandar as being a person who put national and public interest above party commitment.

He also said there was a need to be able to differentiate between an act of upholding national and public interest and that of party hopping.

The people, specifically voters, expect their elected representatives to put national and public interests first, Salleh said.

“These are what we politicians promised to the people and voters during campaigns.”

Last night, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said that Iskandar did not breach the anti-hopping law as the latter did not leave Bersatu.