The Semenyih by-election will be a platform for the seven former Umno MPs, who are now Bersatu members, to prove their loyalty and sincerity to their new party.
This was the Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin's answer to a reporter's question whether the seven MPs would help Pakatan Harapan to campaign in Semenyih.
"Maybe they will. In our last meeting, they expressed their commitment and this will be their first platform to test their loyalty and sincerity.
"God willing, they will (join the campaign trails)," he said in a press conference after announcing the Pakatan Harapan's candidate for the by-election.
The seven MPs are Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Shabudin Yahaya (Tasek Gelugor), Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), and Mas Ermieyati Samsuddin (Masjid Tanah).
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who was also present at the press conference, said that the seven would contribute to the party by meeting with Umno grassroots to explain their decision to quit Umno.
"Umno is a ruined party. But we have no access to Umno members.
"We had gone through election after election but we cannot penetrate Umno-dominated areas especially rural. Only Umno MPs can do that.
"So these seven MPs have a role to play to explain to Umno members, to the grassroots, let us reform the entire system and support the leadership of the prime minister," said Azmin who is also the economic affairs minister.
On Tuesday, Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad issued party membership cards to the seven former Umno lawmakers in Putrajaya.
The move to accept the Umno defectors did not sit well with other Harapan leaders, with PKR's Chang Lih Kang as well as DAP's Ramkarpal Singh, Ronnie Liu and Hannah Yeoh, who is also a cabinet minister, expressing reservations.
Rafizi disagreed that accepting these politicians would weaken Umno, arguing that instead it has eroded the spirit of Harapan's supporters with regard to the March 2 by-election and likened the jump of the Umno defectors as collecting rubbish. - Mkini
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