Kayveas defends presence at Kita launch

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M. Kayveas defended his attendance of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s Kita launch today, claiming it did not indicate he backed the newfound party.

He also dispelled talk that his presence would result in disciplinary action against him by the Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership, pointing out that he had attended in order to gain “political knowledge”.

“There is nothing wrong. I wanted to see what was happening and I came by invitation to see and listen to see what is new that this new party bravely formed at this point in time has to offer.

“I am seeking knowledge, my friend,” he told reporters after attending the launch at Sime Darrby Convention Centre here this morning.

Kayveas added that there was no need to brief BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak about the function as the matter was a non-issue.

“No, no, no, no. I was thinking about it last night and I figured since there is an invitation, okay, I will come and listen.

“Do not turn it into something between me and BN. I am not joining Kita or forming another party. I am confirmed a BN man and PPP is BN and we will remain in BN for as long as I am president,” he said.

Kayveas was among some of the notable personalities spotted at the glitzy launch of Zaid’s newfound political platform Kita today.

Zaid himself, formerly a minister in the Abdullah administration, was sacked from Umno when he was spotted attending a Pakatan Rakyat function and later went on to join PKR.

He resigned from PKR recently, citing his growing dissatisfaction with the top leadership and went on to helm the Kelantan-based Akim (Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia) which he then renamed Kita (Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air).

Kayveas insisted that in Zaid’s case, the latter was sacked for he was already a “rebel” at the time and had plans to leave BN.

“He wanted to go anyway so it is totally different in my scenario,” he said.

Kayveas later pointed out that Kita was clearly not considered an opposition party as Zaid had said during his keynote address today that the party would support the government in policies it deemed were beneficial to the public.

“He says he will work with the government and I am in the government. So it is actually a friendly party ... it does not look like an opposition party to BN,” he said.

But Kayveas claimed that while Kita’s birth seemed a promising indication of political maturity in Malaysia, it was still trapped in the present “political cage” where parties often leverage on racial and religious segregation.

“I feel Zaid is still stuck. I expected Kita to come out of this political cage that we are in but he is still stuck.

“He started out well but then he spoke on the Constitution and what he plans to do and you can see that he is caught in the same net ... it is back to my race, my religion, your race, your religion,” he said.

Kayveas added that in pledging to protect the interests of the separate communities, Zaid had failed to live up to Kita’s promise of being a completely liberal party.

“But he is my friend and I wish him all the best,” he said. - Malaysian Insider