‘Accept ex-Umno members with an open mind’

IPOH: Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) should accept former Umno members with an open mind, said party vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar.

When Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was in Umno, he was rejected by the then opposition but was later accepted by Pakatan Harapan, Mahfuz said.

“The same should go for the rest of the members who wish to leave Umno. We in Amanah especially must have an open mind in accepting those who wish to join us.

“We must give them a chance, but they must leave their old habits and culture in Umno to join us,” he said in his winding-up speech at Amanah’s national convention here yesterday.

But Mahfuz, who is also Human Resources Deputy Minister, added that in Pakatan and Amanah, there was no such thing as members collecting treasures for themselves or their families, as the aim was to build a nation for the benefit of the people.

“Whether they are former Umno members or current Amanah members, those who do wrong will have to face disciplinary action,” Mahfuz said.

Another vice-president, Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, said Muslim members in Amanah must not think of non-Muslim members as “second-class citizens” in the party.

“This is a warning from me. If there are any complaints of them (non-Muslims) being sidelined, action will be taken,” he said in his speech.