KUALA LUMPUR – Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), despite being only a year old, has ambitions of securing 40 federal seats and wresting Kelantan in the 15th general election.
In his speech at the party’s inaugural annual general meeting at Regency Hotel here today, president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said Putra has confirmed the 25 seats it will vie for, while the decision on the remaining 15 is being finalised.
He did not specify the 40 seats, but expressed the party’s intention to take over the Kelantan government.
“We hope to steal Kelantan from PAS. We can no longer see the people of Kelantan suffer.”
Ibrahim, who was Pasir Mas MP until 2013, highlighted Putra’s successes thus far.
As of August, the party had 162 branches, of which 118 have submitted applications to the Registrar of Societies, while 92 have received their registration certificates, he said.
He stressed Putra’s values, while lamenting his political past.
“In 2003, I was kicked out from my party (Umno), and they labelled me harsh and extremist. I found a new platform, and I was called a frog. I did not change parties to make money like other political leaders.
“For many years, they teased me. Now, those leaders who called me a frog are the ones jumping en masse repeatedly.”
He hit out at politicians and parties for playing up racial and religious rhetoric to secure political gains, and said Putra will not fall into the trap.
Among the party’s aims is to ensure that Malay reserve land is returned to the 50% status, he said.
“Malay reserve land was at three million hectares when the nation achieved independence. But in 1995, it was reduced to 1.7 million hectares.
“If this land is used for public projects, it’s not so bad if they replace the land. The saddest thing is, some Malay reserve land has changed status to commercial land, with ownership belonging to non-Bumiputeras.”
Present at the AGM are members from Putra branches nationwide, as well as representatives from the Pakistani, Turkish and Iranian embassies, and non-Malay support groups. – The Vibes, December 12, 2020
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