PUTRAJAYA: Umno members can only be accepted into Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia if they are free from the “cash is king” mentality, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The prime minister, who is also Bersatu chairman, said those from Umno who wanted to join his party must also prove that they no longer had ties with their old party.
“They must also support the good initiatives done by Bersatu. Once we feel comfortable with them and their behaviour, then we will accept them.
“And former Umno members cannot enter Bersatu in a large group with the intention of controlling the party.
“Bersatu is not to be controlled by any individual. It is controlled by the party’s struggle,” said Dr Mahathir in a video posted on Bersatu’s Facebook page.
Dr Mahathir added that Umno was once a well-respected political party but it had strayed from its true direction due to the “cash is king” culture.
“If you want to leave Umno and join other parties, you must drop the old habits and behaviour that made people of all races feel disgusted with Umno.
“Umno was once looked up to and then it lost. Last time, the party never lost,” said Dr Mahathir.
Recently, Bersatu supreme council member A. Kadir Jasin said about 40 Umno MPs could quit the party and join Bersatu.
Dr Mahathir pointed out that Bersatu was a party that was founded by former Umno members who was disgruntled with the leadership of the “old regime”.
“If back then when Umno members had kept firm to the true principles of the party, they would have left when they saw Umno leaders being sacked by the party for being honest and straight.
“But because of the cash is king culture, they stayed in Umno. They were willing to sell (out) the Umno struggle.
“Umno was founded not for any individual, be it Datuk Onn Jaafar, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussein Onn or me. The party was there for race, religion and country.
“But what has happened is that Umno is only there for its leaders, that its followers saw no problem when their leaders were clearly doing something bad,” said Dr Mahathir.
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