A new political party fronted by former Umno leaders today submitted an official application to be a part of Pakatan Harapan

Party fronted by ex-Umno leaders applies to join Pakatan

BY KAMLES KUMAR
The Malay Mail OnlineApril 4, 2017






PBR’s Datuk Khairuddin Abu Hassan submitting his party’s application to Pakatan Harapan representative Fahmi Fadzil, April 4, 2017. — Picture by Kamles KumarMore


KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 — A new political party fronted by former Umno leaders today submitted an official application to be a part of Pakatan Harapan.

Former Umno leader Datuk Khairuddin Abu Hassan submitted the application for the NewGen Party, or better known now as Parti Bebas Rasuah (PBR).

The application was received on behalf of Pakatan Harapan by PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi said PBR’s application will be deliberated during Pakatan’s presidential council meeting tomorrow.

“We will bring this to the presidential council. We always have room for all parties with our basic framework in terms of reform,” he told reporters after receiving the application at the Opposition’s office in Parliament today.

The application however was submitted under NewGen’s name as the Registrar of Societies has yet to approve the name change to PBR, Khairuddin explained.

He also said the party is willing to be a part of Pakatan even if not being allowed to contest in any seats in the next general elections.

“If they give us a seat, we will accept. If no seats given, we are also are acceptable. I cannot go against the presidential council.

“Our party’s has not been accepted yet. Any decision made we will accept with an open heart,” Khairuddin said.

NewGen party president former senator Datuk Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor was not present at the meeting as he was furthering his studies overseas.

Ezam, a former PKR Youth chief, rejoined Umno in 2007 but left it late last year to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), the youngest party in the Pakatan Harapan bloc, chaired by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and led by former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

However, he left PPBM shortly after joining it to form PBR.

The party will campaign on a multi-racial platform with the main agenda of fighting corruption