KUCHING, Aug 8: PRS president Tan Seri Dr James Jemut Masing opines that those who wished to join former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new political party must be unblemished of any corruption and kleptocracy.
As such, he pointed out that, anyone who has a tainted past must not associate themselves with the proposed new political party.
“Tun Mahathir’s new party with a promise of eradicating corruption and kleptocracy is most honourable. It’s about time that the Malaysian government stops corruption and kleptocracy not only in words but in deeds. ‘Jangan cakap tak serupa bikin’ (Don’t let speech differ from action).
“Corrupt practices in Malaysia must have had a beginning. Therefore, those who were involved in past corrupted practices mustn’t get involved in this new Dr Mahathir’s party, otherwise nobody will believe in its credibility. Consequently, this party will fail to attract the interest of reasonable Malaysians.
“When that happens it will become a laughing stock not only of Malaysians, but of the international community,” the Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president asserted in a statement yesterday.
Masing, who is also Deputy Chief Minister was commenting on Dr Mahathir’s announcement yesterday of the formation of a new political party that is not aligned to either Pakatan Harapan or the current Perikatan Nasional (PN)-led federal government.
Dr Mahathir was quoted by Bernama as dislosing that the new party, which has yet to be named, however, will have the same basis of struggle as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), which he co-founded, which is to fight corruption and kleptocracy.
“We are aware that Malaysia already has so many political parties, especially for the Malays. It is not our intention to increase the number, but we are facing extraordinary issues.
“This party will be inclusive and moderate in nature and will show to other races that the Malays are not traitors, that they will keep their promises and they will not reject sincere and principled collaborations,” he told a special press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The Langkawi MP also said the new party will ensure that all Malaysians from other races will receive the appropriate protection and treatment.
Dr Mahathir said the party will be led by his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as president, and himself as chairman.
He disclosed that they will be registering the party with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) as soon as possible and that he hoped that the process will run smoothly without any difficulties. — DayakDaily
