PPBM will respect views of PH allies on Umno’s bad apples

The views of all PH leaders will be considered by PPBM when accepting former leaders from Umno, says the party’s strategist Rais Hussin.

PETALING JAYA: PPBM strategist Rais Hussin has defended the party and its leader, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in the wake of criticisms following the mass defections from Umno.

In a statement, Rais listed five reasons why Mahathir and PPBM did not need to be apologetic over the defections, including the fact that all defectors from Umno would not automatically be accepted into PPBM.

“Many remain independents as they would be subject to further scrutiny to verify if they have truly repented.

“Secondly, not unless all remaining MPs in Umno join PPBM and no one else, can one claim that PPBM has become the most powerful party in Malaysia,” he said, adding that this would have to include those loyal to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Rais said Mahathir and PBM president Muhyiddin Yassin had made it clear that only Umno members who were not involved with the “grand corruption of the previous administration” would be considered.

“Even this statement was made with the caveat that the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council will be kept informed of each of these ‘movements’.”

PPBM strategist Rais Hussin.

Rais said a third reason was that PPBM’s PH allies, namely DAP and PKR, have repeatedly said they will not work with former Umno members with suspicious motives.

“Fourth, when component parties of PH are dead set against the derelict members of Umno, PPBM cannot disrespect the views of other component parties too, and PPBM won’t.”

Finally, he said, the level of support from the Malays after the May 9 election remains low, at around 30%.

“To create a new Malaysia, where up to 65% of the population of the country are Malays, it goes without saying that PH must not be too quick to spurn their Malay representatives.

“(PKR president) Anwar Ibrahim would have no problem in accepting the MPs and state assemblymen too as and when they decide to pledge their loyalty to him.”

Rais said that Umno was “difficult” to “digest” as an entity and this was why PH must be alert and vigilant in accepting “some” and not “all” of the leaders who defected.

“Besides, there is nothing sinister about interacting with the defecting MPs if they haven’t been charged or convicted.”

Analysts have predicted that many of those who are ditching Umno are likely to join PPBM, which has significantly fewer seats than PKR and DAP in Parliament.

Following a series of defections, Umno, which won 54 seats in the May 9 general election, is now left with 37 seats. - FMT