Malaysia greenlights new political party backed by Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s Registrar of Societies (RoS) has principally approved the setting up of opposition Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday.

However, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) splinter party would not be allowed to use “Bersatu” because their application had stated that its acronym is to be PPBM. “Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has been approved today with no amendments and they have registered the acronym as PPBM,” Mr Zahid told the Malaysian media.

“That’s their application and that’s what was approved by the RoS. Not Parti Bersatu, but PPBM. That was their application and they can’t use any other name because that was their own submission. It wasn’t an RoS order, but that’s what they applied (for).”

Former Malaysian deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who was sacked from his post by Prime Minister Najib Razak last year, submitted an application to register PPBM with the RoS last month.

Mr Muhyiddin is expected to lead the new party as its president, while former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad will be its chairman.

The party aims to defend Islam and the rights of the bumiputras, or indigenous Malaysians. It will allow non-bumiputra members but prohibit them from contesting in internal elections, prompting critics to accuse the party of racism.

Dr Mahathir, who had quit Umno earlier this year after accusing Mr Najib of corruption linked to state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), said in July that he would be a founding member of a party that will ally with the opposition parties to ensure straight fights against the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in the next General Election, which is speculated to be held next year.

RoS director-general Mohammad Razin Abdullah explained yesterday that PPBM had initially requested “Bersatu” as its shorter name, but agreed to the change after discussions with the agency.

“When we studied their application, we found that there were other parties already using that name, so we didn’t allow it,” he said. Mr Zahid then interjected to say that there are already six parties and organisations with names containing “Bersatu”.

Mr Razin also warned that PPBM may be deregistered if it continues to refer to itself as “Bersatu”, saying this would contravene the party’s Constitution and that the RoS can take action against the new party.

Mr Zahid said, for now, RoS needed further clarification on the party’s set up, including the precise functions of its chairman and president. Full approval would be given after the new party’s leaders clarified these with the RoS, he added. AGENCIES