We need to build trust says Liew Chin Tong on 40 Umno MPs joining Bersatu

(The Star) – The Umno Members of Parliament (MPs) who want to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) may not necessarily be accepted by the party.

The Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong said the prospect of many Umno MPs joining Bersatu has fuelled talk that the party was becoming Umno 2.0, adding that it has also caused anxieties among Pakatan supporters.

However, Liew said Bersatu’s Supreme Council member Datuk A. Kadir Jasin was a veteran newsman and a political strategist who “does not write things for fun”.

“He is careful to state that even if those Umno MPs desire to join Bersatu, it doesn’t mean that Bersatu will accept them blindly,” he said on his Facebook post on Sunday (Oct 28).

Liew said in the new Malaysia, patience was needed to build trust to create a better future for the nation.

“For me, whatever things said among ourselves, let’s not jump to any conclusion. I’m sure we knew better than to just read news headlines.

“If we want the people not be jumpy when reading sensational news headlines, leaders have to articulate thoughts before sharing their views.

“More importantly, let’s build trust among leaders and between communities,” he said.

“We were able to defeat (former prime minister) Najib’s kleptocracy on May 9th because leaders like (prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, (PKR president) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, (DAP adviser) Lim Kit Siang and (Amanah president) Mohamad Sabu decided to put aside differences and work together.

“The grand realignment was also facilitated by lots of coffee and tea sessions as well as numerous meetings involving second-tier leaders like Kadir and myself to crystallise agendas and ideas,” he said.

Liew pointed out that governing was not an easy job, adding that it can be as difficult as aligning DAP, Bersatu, PKR and Amanah.

Yesterday, Kadir had also said that up to 40 Umno MPs has been meeting party chairman Dr Mahathir and party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the matter, but no decision has been reached.

Kadir also confirmed that the matter was discussed among the party during its leadership meeting on Friday night (Oct 26).

Jeli MP Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who had quit Umno earlier, submitted his application to join Bersatu after the meeting.

Penang Bersatu chairman Datuk Marzuki Yahya said on Sunday (Oct 28) that Bersatu will only accept clean former Umno members who had “no issues” related to integrity, abuse of power or involvement in any corruption scandal.

The Deputy Foreign Minister said Bersatu had a special committee to assess and examine each membership application prior to approval and “would never accept” former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi into the party as he was embroiled in various controversial issues.