Ex-PKR man forms new splinter party
(MMO) – Former PKR grassroots leader Johari Musa announced today he is setting up a new political party called Parti Harapan Malaysia (PHM).
Malay daily Utusan Malaysia reported on its website that the new party is expected to replace PKR in the national political arena.
“PHM’s establishment is clearly to fight for genuine political and democratic practices as desired by many PKR members because they feel the party has derailed from its origins,” the former Lembah Pantai PKR vice-chief was quoted telling a news conference here.
He was also reported saying he is now waiting for approval from the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
In a separate article on its website this afternoon, The Star reported Johari telling reporters that the four-party federal Opposition alliance might have to remove the word “Harapan” from its name if the RoS approves its application.
Johari who was identified as the PHM pro-tem president said its application dated back to December 2015 while a RM30 registration fee had been paid to RoS last December.
“We have already paid the fee to RoS, which means Pakatan Harapan can no longer use the word Harapan in their name.
“They can use other names like Pakatan Bersama. It wouldn’t matter. As long as they don’t use ‘Harapan’ again,”he was quoted saying by The Star Online.
He added that once registered, PHM will join the PAS-led “third bloc” known as Gagasan Sejahtera which also includes Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia, Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia and Parti Cinta Malaysia.
In a statement later made available to Malay Mail Online, Johari claimed that many PKR members were waiting to exit the party as they were disillusioned by how its top leaders, namely de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had become “power mad”.
He further claimed the members felt their party had become a “stooge” to the DAP.
“Many members did not expect PKR would betray good friend PAS to stay on good terms with DAP.
“As such, I urge my friends still in PKR, including the leaders, to join PHM once it is approved,” he said.
Johari also claimed that the new party was sponsored by former PKR leaders as well as some remaining PKR leaders whom he said he will reveal at a later date.
“We are in discussions with certain prominent leaders, including Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for permission for one of them to be the party adviser,” he added.
Independent Port Klang assemblyman Khalid was formerly a PKR leader and Azmin’s predecessor as Selangor mentri besar who lost his post following an internal party dispute.
