New party to stand united with all Malaysians

United force: (From right) Yim and Tan with fellow leaders and members at the launching of Parti Bersama Malaysia at Lee Kongsi in Jalan Burma.

GEORGE TOWN: Several politicians were among those who unveiled a new political party known as Parti Bersama Malaysia or Malaysian United Party.

At its official launching yesterday, former Bayan Baru MCA division secretary David Yim and former Gerakan strongman Lim Boo Chang were named vice-presidents in the party led by its president Tan Gin Theam.

Tan said the party, which was approved by the Registrar of Societies on Dec 2 last year, was not affiliated to any political party.

“We assume the role of providing check and balance on both the ruling and opposition parties.

“This platform is created for the sake of the people, who have only two dominant party powers to choose from.

“We provide them an alternative,” he said before the party launching at Lee Kongsi in Jalan Burma yesterday.

Tan said the party, which he claims has about 10,000 members in Penang, had not decided to take part in the next general election.

“We want to take one step at a time, with no intention to contest just yet.

“We will provide our services to the people, and if they can accept us and ask us to contest, then we will do so,” he said, adding that the national political party would branch out to other states.

Besides Tan, Lim and Yim, the other office bearers for 2017 are Dennis Koay Xing Boon (deputy president), Soon Chee Beng and Lily Teoh (vice presidents), Kee Lean Ee (secretary) and Noor Shukri Hashim (treasurer).

A slide show featuring the various activities of the party for the past seven months was also played at the launch.