Bersatu only accept members with no political baggage — Marzuki

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is ready to accept any individual wishing to join the party if he or she has no issues related to integrity, abuse of power or involvement in any corruption scandal.

Penang Bersatu chairman Datuk Marzuki Yahya said the party had a special committee to assess and examine each membership application prior to approval.

“Our struggle is to empower the Malays as well as to make this a dignified party,” he told reporters after handing over donations to the Indian community and allocating funds to 29 schools and several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) totalling RM140,000 in conjunction with the Deepavali celebration here, yesterday.

Marzuki, who is also Deputy Foreign Minister, also commented on the inclusion of several new members including former top Barisan Nasional (BN) leader and Jeli MP Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Saturday, describing it as a form of positive migration.

“We welcome the matter (Mustapa Mohamed’s membership), and I am confident that he joined on the basis of supporting the party’s struggle,” he said.

He added that the party would never accept former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi into the party as he was embroiled in various issues that tarnished his own party’s dignity and that of the previous government.

“We will not accept him (Ahmad Zahid), in fact, UMNO is now considered irrelevant... becoming even worse after losing power,” he said.

The media recently reported that about 40 MPs from UMNO were said to be leaving the party to join Bersatu.

Bersatu Supreme Council member Datuk A. Kadir Jasin reportedly said that they could potentially be making the move as they had met with Bersatu chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, president Tan Sri Muhyididn Yassin and several of the party’s top leadership several times, either individually or in groups. - Bernama