Leave, if you want to, Mahathir tells disgruntled PPBM members

(FMT) – Dr Mahathir Mohamad today challenged Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) members who wanted to leave the party to quit.

The former prime minister, who is also the party’s chairman, said PPBM could do without such individuals who did not put the party first.

“To those who want to leave, you’re welcome to do so.

“We don’t want members who joined because they had an axe to grind or were interested in positions,” he said at a press conference here this afternoon.

Present were PPBM president Muhyiddin Yassin and deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir.

Mahathir’s comments come in the wake of supreme council member Kamarulazman Habibur Rahman’s decision to resign from the party last week.

Kamarulazman, who was also one of the party’s founders, said he quit the party as he was disappointed over PPBM’s direction which according to him has been hijacked by former Umno members who were looking solely for power and position.

He claimed there were two groups in the party, with one group undermining the efforts of those who had worked hard since the formation of the party. He alleged this was being done just to secure positions.

Kamarulazman also hit out at Muhyiddin and Mukhriz, both of whom he claimed were not happy with his views on certain matters involving the party and its direction.

He went on to claim that a power struggle was taking place in the party, especially when it came to choosing its division chiefs, adding that no trouble had arisen in other states.

Earlier this month, some 500 Rembau PPBM members quit the party, claiming they had lost confidence in the leadership of Muhyiddin and Mukhriz.

Today, Mahathir said the party’s leadership would resolve the various issues in the party, including appointments at the state level.

“There will be those who will be unhappy with what we decided on today, but we will stand by our decision.”

Malaysia’s longest-serving PM also said that divisional chiefs would not necessarily be named as candidates in the next general election, adding that only “winnable candidates” — be it from PPBM or a Pakatan Harapan component party — will be selected.

“It won’t be who is the richest or if he belongs to a particular camp.”

When asked on the allegation that the post of a divisional chief could be “purchased” for RM250,000, Mahathir replied sarcastically.

“It’s not just restricted to the top posts. Even those who want to join will have to fork out RM4.

“If you want to be a lifetime member it will cost RM100,” he said, adding that PPBM was short on finances and that the issue did not arise.