‘New party line-up’ denounced as a lie
FMT
Mahathir’s party supposedly to be named Parti Melayu Baru Bersatu, with Gani Patail, Zeti Aziz, Rafidah Aziz, Bilqis Hijjas and Hishammuddin Rais supposedly in the leadership committee.
PETALING JAYA: A list purporting to show the names and positions of leaders in Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recently announced party is making the rounds, but has been denounced as a lie.
The list says that the party is to be named Parti Melayu Baru Bersatu.
Former trade minister Rafidah Aziz, former Attorney-General Gani Patail and former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz are supposed to be on the committee.
Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, fellow Umno rebel Shafie Apdal and Dr Mahathir’s son Mukhriz are named among the leaders.
Among others are Bilqis Hijjas, who was recently charged and acquitted for dropping yellow balloons in a protest against Najib Razak at a function at the Pavilion shopping centre, and activist Hishammuddin Rais.
However Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali, who was also named, dismissed the list and said the people should use their minds to judge its authenticity.
“You should use your logic. These are the works of the dirty minded, the bad and the ugly,” he told FMT when asked for comment.
Ibrahim said that while he had recently announced a comeback into politics, he has not yet decided which party to join.
“I’m not rushing. There are many options. That is a list prepared by the idiots.”
Muhyiddin’s press secretary Hafiz Abdul Halim dismissed the list as untrue. “Muhyiddin did not attend any meetings pertaining to this. How can there be an appointment? Surely it’s not true.”
Those in Shafie’s camp also dismissed the list.
Youth activist Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman told FMT: ”The list is not true. It’s completely false.” while former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan also denied any knowledge of the list.
On Thursday, Dr Mahathir had announced the formation of a new opposition party to be headed by him, which would seek to bring all opposition parties together as part of his campaign to oust Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Razak.
