NILAI: Despite clashing with PAS in the Negri Sembilan polls, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin maintains that Bersatu is still a part of Perikatan Nasional.
Muhyiddin said this when he was asked whether or not Bersatu would quit Perikatan.
“We are still a member of Perikatan,” said Muhyiddin during a Bersatu candidate announcement event in Nilai on Friday (July 17).
To be a formidable political bloc, Muhyiddin said it is important for Bersatu to form a new coalition with other parties.
“To move forward, there isn’t any other option besides setting up a new coalition,” he added.
Muhyiddin said he met with many leaders of the loose opposition grouping Ikatan Prihatin Rakyat (IPR).
“They have indicated that they are ready to join us. We also have certain strategies to move forward, especially in facing the 16th general election,” he added.
According to Muhyiddin, there were at least 12 parties within IPR, such as the Malaysian Advancement Party, among others.
“Nearly all of them have expressed interest. But let this (state polls) conclude first. We will negotiate and inform,” he said.
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Muhyiddin said Perikatan has strayed from its core struggles and it is no longer the same coalition he knew when it was first founded years ago.
“Perikatan has become toxic. It is not the same Perikatan that I led previously, where it was mobbed by people and we also felt proud because we won many seats.
“Now, to me, the party (Perikatan) is kind of ruined because PAS leaders within Perikatan did not show their ability to lead, and issues on governance were not given attention.
“PAS is also undemocratic, and statements made by their leaders have confused the people. This is one of the factors why we lost,” said Muhyiddin.
Without mincing his words, Muhyiddin also said that Bersatu is more attractive to non-Muslims now due to the absence of PAS.
“Bersatu has no PAS elements, and if there are any non-Muslims feeling doubtful about this, Bersatu has non-Malay representatives.
“We also have non-Malays as election candidates because we have allied wings. So we represent all races,” said Muhyiddin.
Bersatu has fielded 24 candidates in the ongoing Negri Sembilan polls and they are set to clash with its fellow Perikatan parties in eight seats - four PAS and four Wawasan.
Nomination is on Saturday (July 18) and polling is on Aug 1.
