[UPDATED] Pejuang looking to join Perikatan as component party: Mukhriz

KUALA LUMPUR – Pejuang is looking to become a component member of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, said party president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir. 

In a statement today, Mukhriz said that he had written to PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau about Pejuang being accepted to PN. 

“The decision to make the application (to join PN) was agreed on by Pejuang’s executive council two days ago after reviewing all other options of coalitions or political cooperation,” he said.

He added that the party’s executive council deemed an electoral pact “insufficient” and found that it would be “more advantageous” for all parties if Pejuang were to join PN and contest in upcoming elections under the coalition’s banner. 

“The pact between Pejuang and PN will not only be limited to the upcoming state elections (slated to take place this year), but also for long-term (cooperation).   

“Pejuang joining PN will ensure that the Malay votes will not be broken during the state elections,” Mukhriz said.   

The heads of the governments of Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu had recently agreed to consider dissolving their respective state assemblies in the last two weeks of June.   

Last month, Pejuang founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and 12 other party members announced their exit from Pejuang after Mukhriz decided to withdraw the party from the Gerakan Tanah Air coalition. 

Dr Mahathir, a former two-time prime minister, has since joined Putra, along with former Federal Territories Pejuang chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan, who resigned from his party post last year due to a loss in confidence in the Mukhriz’s leadership. – The Vibes, March 2, 2023