Anina quits Pribumi, Hamidah follows suit
Two key members of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi), one a founding member who hit the limelight for her outspokenness and the other a vice-president, have quit the party.
Hours after Anina Saadudin announced her decision to leave, the party revealed that
vice-president Datuk Hami
dah Osman had also quit.
Anina, a former Langkawi
Wanita Umno leader, said she was disillusioned with the party, which she claimed was mired in cronyism and a struggle for power among its leadership.
“I am not anyone’s donkey, cow or dog,” she said, lamenting that Pribumi had lost the core values of its struggles and was now a platform to serve the political interests of certain individuals.
Anina claimed that she was sacked from the party’s leadership council through WhatsApp without any explanation.
“There was no black-and-white at all. At least when I was sacked from Umno, a letter was sent to me. Pribumi is even worse than the people they complained about,” she said, adding that she would continue her political struggle through an NGO that she would set up soon.
Anina was sacked from Umno after openly criticising and initiating court action against party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Shedding tears, Anina said the party that she helped set up for the people no longer practised the principles of justice, transparency and integrity.
She said any form of dissent against the party’s top leadership was immediately silenced.
“Any bad remark is immediately perceived to be aimed at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” she added.
“The party is hiding behind Dr Mahathir.
“This is wrong. The party was founded for the people,” she said referring to the Pribumi and Pakatan Harapan chairman.
Anina pointed out that Pribumi was over-reliant on Dr Mahathir, claiming that the party was not able to attract new supporters without the former premier’s presence.
Pribumi secretary-general Datuk Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh said in a statement that the party and supreme council agreed to Hamidah’s resignation as vice-president, Gopeng division protem committee chairman and as Pribumi member.
“PPBM respects her decision and records our highest appreciation and gratitude for her contributions to PPBM over the years,” he added.
Hamidah’s resignation comes days after her sister Hamizura’s racially-charged Facebook post sparked outrage among some party leaders.
On Wednesday, Hamizura wrote that the Malays should not allow the Chinese to “step” all over them. She has since apologised to the Chinese community.