THERE is no refuge for the corrupt in Bersatu, said Muhyiddin Yassin to claims that Umno leaders defecting to the Pakatan Harapan pact member were doing it to escape criminal prosecution.

The president stressed that even loyal members and leaders who had been with Bersatu since before the party formed the government would not be protected if they were suspected of breaking the law.

Muhyiddin rubbished suggestions that Bersatu’s decision to take in ex-Umno members was so that the party could grow and rival PKR, PH’s biggest component member in terms of parliamentary seats.

The entry of ex-Umno members, who wanted to atone for supporting their former party, would in the end strengthen PH, Muhyiddin said.

“(Ex-Umno leaders) will not be safe… If they think they can find a sanctuary to escape from action, that is a mistake. This is not a place to seek refuge and protection if they had committed wrongdoings,” Muhyiddin said in a special interview ahead of the Bersatu annual general meeting this weekend.  

Bersatu, which is part of the PH coalition government, has become a magnet for members and leaders leaving Umno, after the Malay nationalist party lost power for the first time in history in the 14th general election.

Bersatu’s allies in PH, such as DAP and PKR, as well as their supporters in civil society have warned that these Umno personalities were attempting to join Bersatu to escape prosecution for corruption – which was rampant during the previous Umno administrations.

One of such Umno leader is former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik, a scandal-ridden figure that had applied to join Bersatu’s Malacca chapter. Rahim had been linked to the statutory rape of a minor and had publicly aired a pornographic video of an individual he claimed was Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar is PKR president and is slated to take over as prime minister from Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Bersatu chairman.

Muhyiddin said that Umno leaders will be subjected to a three-tier vetting system before their applications are accepted.

The first two tiers will involve background checks with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission while the third one is a review of their political track record.

“The political vetting is on whether they committed any acts that contradict our struggle… So even though they have made public declarations (to support us), it does not mean that they can just come in,” Muhyiddin said, elaborating on the screening process.  

“Especially if they have been linked (to criminal cases). Even if they are not found guilty but just linked, it’s enough for to say we don’t need these people. Lets just prioritise people who have not done anything.”  

He also responded to concerns from DAP and PKR saying that even the leaders of these parties had said they were willing to accept former Umno members.

“(DAP’s) Lim Kit Siang and (Amanah’s) Mohamad Sabu had said their parties were willing to accept ex-Umno members. In PKR, even while some leaders say they won’t accept these people, there are other leaders who are working to pull them in.”

The reason for this he said, was PH component members realised that the coalition is not strong enough despite having won the general election.  

“Who says PH is strong? You can ask the presidents of all the parties. I am from Bersatu and I will say we are not strong enough and if people are repentant after we won and they want to support us, whether they are from Umno or not, I can’t say they can’t (come in).”

Muhyiddin also addressed talk that Besatu was absorbing this exodus in order to threaten Anwar.  

“I don’t care if people want to say ‘the entry of all these people will strengthen Bersatu, Dr Mahathir and myself. It will rival other PH leaders, and Anwar will feel threatened’. Because we are already bound by our understanding.

“So from a positive context, the acceptance of all these people should not be seen as something bad.” – December 28, 2018.