Pakatan Harapan’s snub is reason for Dr M’s new party

(Bernama) – Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants to form a new party because the Pakatan Harapan does not accept him and his son, former Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz as members, said Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said this was proved when the Pakatan Harapan could not accept leaders like Dr Mahathir as they knew his intention of joining the pact was to promote his son, Mukhriz.

According to him, this was proven in the opposition pact when Lim Kit Siang as DAP Advisor already has his son, Lim Guan Eng as DAP Secretary-General and Penang Chief Minister while Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has her daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar as PKR Vice President.

“I welcome him (Dr Mahathir) establishing a new political party because this is a democratic practice in Parliament and I see he has listened to me to form a new party instead of yelling in the streets by holding demonstrations because it will go anywhere and it is not the way.

“Which ever party is being formed, Barisan Nasional will surely fight against it in the coming general election,” he told a media conference after a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering at Taman Puncak Bougainvillea near here today.

Mohamed Nazri, who is also Tourism and Culture Minister, was commenting on Dr Mahathir’s statement on Thursday announcing that he would form a new party which would be part of the opposition pact to face the BN in the 14th general election.

“Right now they do not have a house (party) and like ‘hantu raya’ (ghosts) can only have a new house by forming a new party.

“With a legal political party and a request for police approval, any programme can be held in accordance to the regulations,” he said.

He hoped the people respect Dr Mahathir as a former Prime Minister but not to follow his ways, which clearly showed “Malays have forgotten themselves”.