KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced the formation of a new party that is not aligned to either Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Dr Mahathir said the new party, which has yet to be named, however, will have the same basis of struggle as Bersatu that he co-founded before, which is to fight corruption and kleptocracy.
“We are aware that Malaysia already has so many political parties, especially for the Malays. It is not our intention to increase the number, but we are facing extraordinary issues.
“This party will be inclusive and moderate in nature and will show to other races that the Malays are not traitors, that they will keep their promises and they will not reject sincere and principled collaborations,” he told a special press conference here today.
The Langkawi MP said the new party will also ensure that all Malaysians from other races will receive the appropriate protection and treatment.
Dr Mahathir said the party will be led by Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as president and himself as chairman.
The former prime minister said the party will also contest in the upcoming Slim by-election slated for Aug 29 on Independent ticket.
On the Sabah state election, he said the party has yet to make any decision on that, but he also stressed that the party is on good terms with Parti Warisan Sabah.
Dr Mahathir also said they will be registering the party with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) as soon as possible and that he hoped that the process will run smoothly without any difficulties.
To a question whether the new party will accept non-Malay or non-bumiputera as members, Dr Mahathir said they have not decided on the matter yet.
He said although the new party is a Malay-based party, it will also look after the interests of the non-Malays.
Right after the press conference, Dr Mahathir, who was accompanied by Mukhriz, proceeded to a hotel in Bangsar to attend a programme with their supporters and to explain to them about the formation of the new party. – Bernama
