Azmin, 10 MPs to join PPBM amid signs of about-turn by PKR over support for Dr M

Azmin Ali and Zuraida Kamaruddin were sacked on Monday.

KUALA LUMPUR: The group of 11 PKR MPs who left the party this week following the sacking of deputy president Azmin Ali are set to join PPBM, in what could boost the support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad amid signs of Pakatan Harapan MPs switching loyalties to Anwar Ibrahim.

“All except one of them fulfills the conditions for PPBM membership,” said a source, confirming the entry of the 11 who formed an independent bloc after quitting PKR.

PPBM’s membership is open to all Bumiputeras.

Apart from Azmin, the 10 others are Zuraida Kamaruddin, Saifuddin Abdullah, Baru Bian, Kamaruddin Jaffar, Mansor Othman, Rashid Hasnon, Ali Biju, Willie Mongin and Jonathan Yasin.

It is believed that another MP, Santhara Kumar, will become an associate member.

FMT has also learnt that Anwar and PKR MPs are intent on proposing his name for prime minister during their audience with the Agong.

This was despite PKR and DAP publicly stating support for Mahathir to lead a revived ruling coalition following PH’s collapse this week.

This also comes as sources believe Mahathir is torn between “choosing the same group of people who called for his resignation” and a new bloc whose conditional support for him has pushed him to a hard place.

“After meetings with political leaders yesterday, it was crystal clear that Tun (Mahathir) had the majority support to become the PM again. There are signs this could not be the case when PKR MPs state their preference to the Agong today,” the source told FMT on condition of strict anonymity.

“He is between a rock and a hard place, the hard place being the condition set by Umno leaders,” said a source who has been privy to private conversations among top politicians.

One bloc is represented by PKR, DAP and Amanah, the remaining three members of the PH coalition, which is largely made up of MPs who eventually want PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to take over as prime minister.

The other bloc is made up of everyone else, mainly those who don’t want DAP to be part of a future federal government.

The remaining three PH parties yesterday held a meeting last night to come to an agreement on a new government, ahead of their audience with the Agong at Istana Negara today.

MORE TO COME - FMT