KUALA LUMPUR – Pejuang’s attempt to join Perikatan Nasional (PN) has been snubbed by the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led coalition.
Announcing the matter in a statement today, PN secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said that the PN supreme council had come to the decision after a meeting chaired by Muhyiddin yesterday.
While the opposition leader did not explain the coalition’s decision, he said that the meeting featured representatives from component parties, including PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Abdul Awang and Gerakan counterpart Datuk Dominic Lau.
Besides that, Hamzah also revealed several new appointments within the coalition, including Kedah PN chief and state menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s appointment as the coalition’s election director.
Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee is Sabah PN liaison committee chief while his counterpart in the Federal Territories will be Bersatu vice-president Datuk Mohd Radzi Jidin.
Earlier this month, Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir had expressed the party’s hopes to join PN, stating that it would be “more advantageous” for all parties if Pejuang were to join PN ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Subsequently, Bersatu supreme council member Faiz Na’aman had voiced his objection to the PN potentially opening its doors to Mukhriz and his party, citing his past unfavourable experience with Mukhriz.
Faiz also labelled the move as a “desperate, opportunistic and unprincipled one coming from a party that lost terribly during the last general election (GE15)”.
During GE15, Pejuang’s abysmal performance saw all of its candidates, including Mukhriz and party founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, losing their deposits.
Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Faizal Azumu, however, told The Vibes that he sees Pejuang’s bid in a more positive light, suggesting that Pejuang had opted to align themselves with PN as it is the “better alternative” compared to other existing coalitions.
Last month, Dr Mahathir 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 of confidence in Mukhriz’s leadership. – The Vibes, March 21, 2023
