Lack of time to prepare for GE15, Azmin's G10 defers plans for new party

The group of PKR defectors led by Gombak MP Azmin Ali, referred to as "G10", is unlikely to form a new political party at this point due to the lack of time to prepare for the 15th general election.

Azmin's top lieutenant Zuraida Kamaruddin (above) said it was impractical to form a new party now as it would need at least three years to be ready for a general election.

"This is because it will take at least three years. In the time (we have now), it is not practical to form a new party to face the 15th general election," the Ampang MP told journalists at Parliament today.

The current Dewan Rakyat will expire exactly two days from now in 2023.

However, speculation was rife that snap polls might be called ahead of a potentially worsening economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Azmin's allies had been laying the groundwork for a possible new political party.

Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin set up Pemuda Negara while Lembah Jaya assemblyperson Haniza Talha formed the Nation of Women.

Both are Azmin's close allies and were sacked from PKR.

The NGOs are seen as the possible future youth and women's wings of the new political party.

However, Azmin (below) downplayed any such plans at this time, stating that no new party had been registered.

Zuraida confirmed that the plan now is to join Bersatu.

"We, as a group, have not yet (joined the party) but we are in the process of finetuning the manner in which we will join Bersatu.

"We are waiting for Bersatu's election and annual general assembly to conclude first," she added.

At present, the group of 10 PKR defectors are appearing in the Dewan Rakyat as Bersatu MPs.

"We accept that," Zuraida said.

The G10 was instrumental in bringing down the Pakatan Harapan government after 22-months in power.

They joined forces with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, who pulled out his party from Harapan.

Together, they formed the new Perikatan Nasional government with BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR.

Apart from Azmin and Zuraida, the other eight are Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota), Kamaruddin Jaffar (Bandar Tun Razak), Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat), Santhara Kumar (Segamat), Ali Biju (Saratok), Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo) and Jonathan Yasin (Ranau).

Selangau MP Baru Bian had left PKR with the group but has joined PSB, a Sarawak-based opposition party that is friendly to Harapan, Warisan and Bersatu rebels led by Langkawi MP Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Since then, the G10 had also engineered an additional defection from PKR in the form of Lubuk Antu MP Jugah Muyang. - Mkini