It started off as a joke on Twitter that poked fun at Islamist party PAS but Parti Aspirasi Sains Malaysia (Sains) is no longer horsing around.
The PAS-parody party has taken its first steps to become a real entity by submitting an application to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) today.
"The party is founded as a home and platform for Malaysians who believe in implementing evidence-based public policies that are backed by science and data," Sains said in a statement.
It said its flagship policies include guaranteed monthly income for the bottom 60 percent of income earners (B60) to eradicate poverty; establishing a human-centred economy for more decent work opportunities and income equality; and sustainable development in line with UN recommendations.
Sains - which touts itself as the country's first science-based political party - will not have a youth or gender wing and said it will not follow a traditional party hierarchy.
It added that 250 people have already registered as prospective members and 15 pro-tem committee members.
The party's logo features the planet Saturn in green on a field of white, a play on PAS' white moon on a green backdrop.
The party was originally named Parti Ajaran Sains and started off when pro-tem president Kenneth Chai masqueraded as a PAS member on the micro-blogging site.
“I was trolling as a PAS member (being sarcastic) in the beginning, commenting on their political decisions and actions. Then one PAS member DM-ed (sent direct message) me to stop using their party name, so I just said alright, I’ll start my own party.
“My Twitter followers know I always post, criticise and argue about science as I’m a Stem teacher. So I started a parody, Parti Ajaran Sains, to troll them,” Chai told Malay Mail.
It should be noted that PAS has never stated it is anti-science. Its vice-president Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar is an aerospace engineer, for example.
Chai acknowledged that getting Sains registered may be difficult.
Presently, youth-based outfit Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's newest party Pejuang, are still fighting the ROS to be registered. - Mkini
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