Five Johor Bersatu reps say no to Dr M's new party

JOHOR BARU: Five Johor Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia assemblymen claim to have no intention to quit and join the new Malay-based party of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Former Johor mentri besar Datuk Osman Sapian said that he was still a Bersatu assemblyman and he has no desire to leave the party to join the yet-to-be-named party.

He also questioned whether Dr Mahathir was really serious in forming a party, as the former prime minister did not reveal his party structure.

“I pity those that have quit Bersatu to join Dr Mahathir because if this new party does not exist, then they left Bersatu for nothing, ” he added.

Bukit Permai assemblyman Tosrin Jarvanthi, who is also the state Islamic religious affairs committee chairman, said he has no interest in crossing over and joining Dr Mahathir’s new party.

“I just won the Kulai division chief's position, where I was elected by more than 3,700 members to lead them. Why should I betray their trust, ” he said when met during Yayasan Penyayang Kulai program held at the Cengal apartment here on Tuesday (Aug 11).

Permas assemblyman Datuk Seri Che Zakaria Mohd Salleh said that he would have to restart his groundwork all over again if he leaves Bersatu to be part of Dr Mahathir’s party, which would be tiresome work for him.

“I'll be tired if I join a new party, but why should I leave as Bersatu has been getting stronger, ” he said, adding that more people have shown interest to be party members.

Sedili assemblyman Rasman Ithnain also said he was staying put with the party.

“Nobody approached me and even if they did, my loyalty is to the party as I believe in Bersatu’s struggle as well as to the president, ” he said.

Johor Lama assemblyman Rosleli Jahari also laughed off the possibility of him joining the new party.

“I am staying with Muhyiddin (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) and there is no problem in the state where we like Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad’s leadership, ” he said.

Bersatu has 11 elected representatives in the 56-seats in the Johor assembly including its president and Prime Minister Muhyiddin, who is the Gambir assemblyman.

On Sunday (Aug 9), state Bersatu chief Mazlan Bujang said that Dr Mahathir’s party would not undermine their support to Muhyiddin.

He added there were no problems in the state chapter, with all 26 divisions continuing to support Muhyiddin.

“Dr Mahathir is a great statesman who spent more than 22 years as the prime minister of the country and surely, he has his own followers, but they are not that many, ” he added.

On Friday (Aug 7), Dr Mahathir, who was Bersatu’s former chairman, announced the formation of an “independent” Malay-based party that will neither be part of the Opposition Pakatan Harapan, nor the ruling Perikatan Nasional.

The yet-to-be-registered party will have Jerlun MP Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as the temporary president and Dr Mahathir as the chairman.