Dr M: Parti Pribumi to work with DAP despite not agreeing on ‘all issues’

(MMO) – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia is willing to work with DAP despite having a difference of opinion over various issues, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

According to the Parti Pribumi protem committee chairman, both parties have set aside their differences for a common goal.

“On certain things we agree. For example the citizens’ declaration. DAP is willing to support me despite me being their worst enemy for 60 years but they are prepared to support an initiative taken by me.

“On certain issues, we can agree but not on all issues,” he told reporters during a press conference today.

Among the issues that brought Dr Mahathir and the DAP together he claimed is the goal of removing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Dr Mahathir went on to claim that when he was Barisan Nasional (BN) president previously, he was faced with similar challenges when working with other component parties.

“It is the same problem we faced in BN. There are certain things we agree and we work together on that,” he explained.

The former prime minister added that he took on the decision to form a new party as Umno has deviated from its aims and Parti Pribumi is focused on forming a new government.

“This party has the desire to be the government of Malaysia. We would like to form the government someday,” Dr Mahathir said.

Parti Pribumi protem committee president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin meanwhile reiterated that he would not be replacing Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as opposition leader despite the rumours going around.

“Until today, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah is opposition leader. The question of opposition leader does not arise at all,” he stressed.

The new Umno splinter party has Muhyiddin as its president, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its chairman and the latter’s son and former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as vice-president of the protem committee.

Membership with full voting rights is limited to the Bumiputera community, which make up over 60 per cent of Malaysia’s population. However, non-Bumiputera can join as associate members, which means they will not be allowed to vote or elected into office but can be appointed to certain party positions.

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli had described it as “strange” to have a Bumiputera-only party in the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition.

DAP Youth vocally criticised the decision and said it would not work with parties that have “racist” policies.

Parti Pribumi is expected to work with other Pakatan Harapan parties to form a grand coalition heading into the 14th general elections.

Pakatan Harapan’s three founding parties, DAP, PKR, and Amanah, all have open membership policies without restrictions.