Dr M’s intention to form new party a futile effort, says Mubarak

(Bernama) – The Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) perceives the intention of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to set up a new party as a futile effort and that the party will not last long.

Its president, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman said the formation of a new party must be based on a struggle and not because of personal reason.  “For me, if there are people fighting merely for personal interest and using personal attacks, the fight will not last long.

“Any struggle must be based on ideology,” he said at a media conference after chairing the Meeting of the Main Committee and Student Committee of the Second Undergraduate Parliamentary Programme 2016, here today. 

Last Thursday, Dr Mahathir announced that he would form a new party that would become part of the components of the opposition coalition to face the 14th General Election.

Abdul Aziz said that Mubarak was open to any former leader wishing to form a new party as the country practised the democratic system.  “The question is whether the party is effective. If Tun Mahathir wants to form a party, he can go ahead,” he said.

On the Undergraduate Parliamentary sitting on July 26 and 27, he said the sitting this time would be participated by six private institutions of higher learning as well as 20 local public institutions of higher learning.  “A total of 210 delegates will participate in the sitting this time. We (Mubarak) propose that the universities involved will give an opportunity to all races and genders,” he said.

Meanwhile in Kuala Terengganu, the chairman of the Terengganu Umno Liaison Body Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said the state Umno would not be affected by the proposed formation of a new party by Dr Mahathir. 

Ahmad Razif, who is also Terengganu Mentri Besar, said Umno was a strong party and was confident that it would gain continued support from all party members including at the grassroots level.

“This is not the first time such development has occurred in Umno. In the past when Datuk Onn Jaafar set up Parti Negara, Umno remained strong. Similarly with the formation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and Semangat 46.  

“To me, a splinter party (of Umno) set up out of frustration will get nowhere because the people are still confident that Umno is relevant in the past, now and forever,” he told reporters after launching the Manis FM radio station, here today.