PPBM ISN’T A ‘CASH IS KING’ PARTY, SAYS DR MAHATHIR
‘Umno members seeking entry into PPBM should know this’
TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned those seeking to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) that it is not interested in taking in opportunity seekers.
He said Umno members seeking entry into PPBM should know that it was not a “cash is king” party.
“This party is not about ‘cash is king’. We struggle for religion, race and the country. That’s all we aspire for and we will not accept those who think joining a political party is about getting opportunities,” said the PPBM chairman in a Facebook video yesterday.
Dr Mahathir, who is prime minister, sought to allay fears by PPBM members the party would be overrun by ex-Umno members.
“They can come in from Umno as a big group to control PPBM (but) it cannot be controlled by anyone. It is controlled only by its struggle.”
He said Umno members had to prove that they were no longer tied to their previous party and were genuinely interested in the
This party is not about ‘cash is king’. We struggle for religion, race and the country. That’s all we aspire for and we will not accept those who think joining a political party is about getting opportunities.
work that PPBM had done.
“We will accept them when we are comfortable with their actions.”
He took a swipe at Umno members who pleaded ignorance over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal and those who had defended ex-prime minister and former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the issue.
“If they really did not know, that means they did not care about their party’s struggle and were just comfortable with the treatment they received.
“These individuals will ruin Umno if they remain, and ruin PPBM if they join us.”
Dr Mahathir addressed claims that the grouses voiced by PPBM’s grassroots were not being heard by the leadership.
The party’s leaders, he said, were trying to help the country recover and fix its finances.
“We have many leaders but they are busy trying to help the nation and its financial situation. If we take time to hear their views and complaints, and we hear things such as ‘I can’t work with such leaders; they should be booted out or dropped’... if that is their struggle, then it’s hard for us to give them the time.”
He said there were PPBM leaders who did not like having new members and were content with the status quo. These people, he said, perceived those who were more talented as being threats.
“If we only think about ourselves and our position, this party will become like Umno and will be rejected by the people.”