Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) must move forward and defend the struggle of the party, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Bersatu’s supreme council has given its nod for the party to join the Umno-PAS Muafakat Nasional (MN) political pact, said the party president.
According to Muhyiddin, he believed that the unity of the three big Malay-based parties in one coalition would create stability in the country’s politics.
“I believe this would be the best option for Bersatu. We choose to be within a large group that combines the major political parties in our country.
“With the unity between Bersatu, Umno, PAS and other parties in the Perikatan Nasional government, we would already have most of the rakyat’s support with us.
“God willing, this unification will create political stability for our country, which will surely bring the joy of peace, harmony and prosperity to all rakyat regardless of their race and religious background,” Muhyiddin said in a pre-recorded speech that was broadcast to Bersatu party members today.
The prime minister delivered the speech in conjunction with Bersatu Youth, Women, and divisional meetings that are held at its divisions nationwide today.
MN is a political pact that was formed by Umno and PAS last September, formalising their cooperation which started several years ago.
Umno is also a part of Barisan Nasional, which is a formal political coalition that consists of three other parties – MCA, MIC and Sabah’s PBRS.
Together with Bersatu, Sarawak-based parties GPS and Star, and Sabah-based PBS, the parties in MN and BN form the PN government, supporting Muhyiddin as the prime minister. However, PN is not a formal pact nor a registered political entity.
Umno, which holds the most number of parliamentary seats among the six parties, in particular, has announced that it would not join PN as a coalition but invited Bersatu to join MN instead.
Muhyiddin told party delegates that the cooperation between parties in MN and PN should be nurtured and improved, especially at the grassroots level.
“I know that this process may take some time, but I am confident that we can create a strong cooperation with our allies.
“At the central level, I have always conducted discussions with the top leadership of Umno, PAS, MCA, MIC, GPS, PBS, Star and PBRS, which forms the PN government. Several major agreements had been reached in these meetings, which I believe would further strengthen the position of Bersatu and our allies in PN,” he said.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Muhyiddin also addressed the issue of former party chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has formed a new political party.
Muhyiddin dismissed allegations that he had betrayed the party and extended his appreciation to the party’s former chairman Dr Mahathir for his role.
“Party leaders come and go but the party struggle must always be defended.
“I did not betray the party which I founded. So, there is no reason for me to betray the party that I formed,” he said in a special address in conjunction with the party’s Women’s (Srikandi), Youth (Armada) wings and divisional meetings that was posted on Facebook on Saturday (Aug 15).
Muhyiddin said that he could not deny Dr Mahathir’s contribution and history with Bersatu.
“I respect him as a former leader of the party. All those who are close to me know that I respect Dr Mahathir.
“I believe, not only me, but all of us feel sad when he is no longer with us.
“It is alright, he chose his own ways. I wish him all the best, and more importantly, the struggle of the party must go on,” said Muhyiddin.
In May, Bersatu terminated Dr Mahathir, his son Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and two others for sitting on the Opposition bench during the May 18 parliamentary sitting.
The other two who were removed from the party were Dr Maszlee Malik and Amiruddin Hamzah, both Bersatu supreme council members.