TOK PA IS SOLE PPBM REP IN KELANTAN
Mustapa expected to boost party’s morale, says information chief
DATUK Seri Mustapa Mohamed is now Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) sole voice in the Kelantan state assembly.
PPBM information chief Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin said having been the former Umno state liaison chairman, Mustapa would boost PPBM’s morale in the state where it previously had no representative.
Mustapa, or Tok Pa, who quit Umno to become an independent member of parliament last month, joined PPBM on Friday.
Radzi, who is deputy economic affairs minister, described Mustapa as a “warrior” and said he was convinced that other Umno division leaders would also follow suit.
This would be a major boost for the party in Kelantan, he added.
“We know Tok Pa’s track record and nobody can deny this. All quarters must accept that his previous contributions to the country and Kelantan will serve as a morale booster for us in this state,” Radzi said at a meeting with heads of departments and federal agencies yesterday.
“At least now we have a voice in the Kelantan state assembly and a Pakatan Harapan Kelantan parliamentarian. Maybe there will be others after this,” he said, referring to Mustapa’s position as assemblyman for Air Lanas and MP for Jeli.
Radzi said he had contacted Mustapa, whom he regarded as his political mentor, after the 14th General Election (GE14).
“I am very happy Tok Pa is with PPBM. I visited him after GE14 when he was in the midst of moving out of his government residence in Kuala Lumpur.
“I prayed that one day he would leave Umno and join us.”
Kelantan PPBM chairman Datuk Kamarudin Md Noor said Mustapa’s position in the party would be determined by the party leadership.
He said there had been no discussions on the matter.
“We are leaving it to the central leadership because based on Tok Pa’s statement, he did not join PPBM because he desired a position. There need not necessarily be a position for him but in the future, we never know,” he said.