We are ‘all equal in the coalition’

Bersatu is not the big brother of Pakatan, says Muhyiddin

PETALING JAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia is not the big brother of Pakatan Harapan, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We are all equal in the coalition,” said the party president.

Muhyiddin said the party would not flex its muscles at the second annual general meeting but use it as a platform to listen to the voice of the people.

He, however, added that the party had the Prime Minister.

“But Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been very democratic and spent time listening to everyone in Pakatan Harapan.

“He has been very democratic in his leadership and engaged with everyone fairly.

“He knows he is not the Barisan Nasional chairman as this is Pakatan,” said Muhyiddin during an interview with the media in conjunction with the three-day Bersatu AGM beginning today.

He was responding to a question of how Bersatu would see itself when the premiership does not belong to the party anymore.

Dr Mahathir is expected to hand over the baton to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after two years in a mutual understanding made before the May 9 polls among the Pakatan parties.

Muhyiddin said Bersatu would not falter just because the leadership changes, saying that the party would remain committed to its struggles for a better Malaysia as long as “there are stars, moon and sun in the sky”.

“There is an understanding that Anwar will take over in an appropriate time – some say two years, some say more.

“The Prime Minister has responded to this – it is quite clear – although some people are politicising this. For us, it is a promise which we will fulfil,” said Muhyiddin.

He said with this in mind, Bersatu decided to give free rein to all the delegates to voice out their grievances and suggestions.

Muhyiddin said he hoped that delegates from the 12 states would raise bread and butter issues affecting the bumiputra and provide suggestions and ideas to improve the party and government policies.

He added that the delegates might even raise the issue of Bersatu being another Umno.

Many Umno leaders and members recently applied to join Bersatu.

“We are not Umno. You may see the remnants of Umno shadows in us but we have moved on and formed a new struggle for Malaysia Baru.

“Many in Umno have repented and they know Umno cannot be saved anymore.

“They want to join us and our policy is that we are open to those who are loyal to the constitution, to the leaders of Bersatu and will struggle for a better Malaysia,” he said.

Muhyiddin warned the corrupted ones, who were finding a way to escape punishment, saying that “Bersatu is not your place of refuge”.

“We will thoroughly vet all applications with the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), police and internal checks to see if they are compatible to our struggles.

“Even if they are merely perceived as being corrupt, that is enough to raise alarm bells,” he said.

The AGM, to be attended by some 2,000 participants nationwide, will be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Some people are politicising this. For us, it is a promise which we will fulfil. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin