DR MAHATHIR Mohamad’s new party Pejuang does not offer positions or riches to attract members, but only the promise of sincerity and getting rid of corruption, said Marzuki Yahya.

Its pro tem deputy president said the main purpose of Pejuang is to fight graft.

Pejuang does not want to make the same mistake as Bersatu, where members joined expecting positions and rewards, he said.

“We do not offer anything else other than sincerity to change the country. We expect people to join us wholeheartedly to save the country.

“Even though we are a Malay party, we also want the other races to enjoy the fruits of the country,” Marzuki told The Malaysian Insight.

Dr Mahathir recently announced the formation of Pejuang after saying Bersatu and other Malay parties have failed to fight for the Malays.

The party is awaiting approval from the Registrar of Societies.

Dr Mahathir will be the party’s founding chairman while his son Mukhriz has been named as the first president.

Marzuki, who is one of Pejuang’s co-founders, said the party is not centred around Dr Mahathir but is using him as a symbol to fight corruption and kleptocracy.

“The failure of a country is due to corruption. As a democratic country, what other methods are we going to use (apart from starting a party)?

“We have to start a party to teach the people and show them the corrupt politicians who are using the people’s money for their own gain,” said the former deputy foreign affairs minister.

Dr Mahathir and six others lost their Bersatu membership for supporting Pakatan Harapan, despite the party itself exiting that pact to form a new federal government with Umno, PAS and Sarawak ruling pact GPS.

The group also lost their legal challenge against their loss of membership and decided to set up Pejuang after that.

Marzuki also quashed rumours that Pejuang is just a vehicle for Dr Mahathir and Mukhriz to continue their political legacy.

“This is not a father-son party. It is about principles. Mukhriz also left on principles. He did not stay with Perikatan Nasional despite being a menteri besar,” Marzuki said, referring to Mukhriz’s term as Kedah MB.

Marzuki said he is sure the new party will overcome legal challenges and be registered as a full-fledged entity soon.

“There is no excuse for them not to approve our application. There is no reason for them to block us, unless there is a political reason.”

Since the announcement of the new party, a host of Bersatu members have defected to Pejuang, with many more expected to follow suit.

The party is also contesting in the Slim by-election but with its candidate standing as an independent as the party is not registered yet. – August 28, 2020.