Bersatu supreme council member Abu Bakar Yahya today said that those looking to support a Malay-bumiputera force in government would naturally flock to join his party.
Speaking to reporters after receiving 60 new members formerly of the BN administration's propaganda arm, the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), Abu Bakar said there is no reason to question their decision to join Bersatu.
"When Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad asked where the Malays are heading, and said that they must 'bersatu' (unite)... that means to be led to (join) Bersatu.
"But the people are free to join any party. If they lean towards Bersatu, they can join Bersatu.
"If they are keen on PKR, they can join PKR, and they can join Amanah or DAP as well. That is their right," he said after the session held at the Intekma Hotel in Shah Alam.
Abu Bakar, the political secretary to Mahathir, was responding to former Jasa director Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz's (photo) mockery of Bersatu's acceptance of former Umno members and ex-Jasa staff.
He reiterated that there was no issue with ex-Jasa staff joining the party, as the agency had been disbanded.
"What is there for Tun Faisal to comment on? How can he question these people?
"Jasa no longer exists. These people are ordinary citizens, and they need to (show) support for a Malay-led government. That's all."
In a series of tweets earlier today, Tun Faisal branded his former staffers who joined Bersatu as "idiots."
"First they take Umno leaders, and now former Jasa staff. What does that mean? (It means that) those currently in Bersatu are idiots who are unreliable.
"Bersatu needs smart people from within Umno and Jasa," said Tun Faisal, who also likened Bersatu members to cows capable only of following orders.
'Overwhelming requests to join Bersatu'
Meanwhile, Abu Bakar also noted that Bersatu has been inundated with requests to join the party from around the country.
"I'm confident that our numbers will increase. I think people might not know where to submit their registration forms and all that.
"This year, under the leadership of chairperson Mahathir, president Muhyiddin Yassin, and deputy president Muhkriz Mahathir, I am confident that we can reach one or two million members," he said.
At Bersatu's annual general assembly last month, the subject of crossovers from Umno was a hotly debated topic.
Critics have raised concerns that Bersatu may transform into the party it seeks to replace. - Mkini
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