IT is important for newly formed Pejuang to have political cooperation with other parties to survive, said the Malay-based party’s founding president, Mukhriz Mahathir.

He said Pejuang, which is still awaiting Registrar of Societies approval, has a good relationship with Warisan, Amanah and DAP but added it will need to sort out ties with PKR.

The former Kedah menteri besar, however, said that should not be a problem as he enjoys a good relationship with PKR despite strained ties between his father and Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Political understanding with other opposition parties is vital for the newly formed party, said Mukhriz.

“Whatever it is, we should have an understanding between parties or cooperation among us so that there will be no three-cornered fights in the next general election.

“If there is cooperation, each party will benefit,” Mukhriz told The Malaysian Insight.

Pejuang could have won the Slim state seat by-election on August 29 if it had formed a pact with the Pakatan Harapan parties, he said.

“Any party that wants to contest in any seat should have political cooperation. When there is a collective vote, then we can win over our opponent.”

The Umno/Barisan Nasional candidate won Slim by 10,945 votes.

BN’s Mohd Zaidi Aziz polled 13,060 votes, independent candidate Amir Khusyairi Mohamad Tanusi (2,115) and another independent, S. Santharasekaran (276). Amir Khusyairi contested as an independent as Pejuang is yet to be registered.

“I think we could have won in Slim if we had cooperated (with Pakatan parties).

“Even though we lost, it should be remembered that we went up against the Perikatan Nasional-ruled state government as well as the federal government.

“BN even offered land rights to the voters just to fight a small party like us.”

The situation for Pejuang is the same for Bersatu during the last general election when it was part of PH, he said.

“In the last election, we got 12 to 15% of the Malay votes that we contributed into Pakatan Harapan as a coalition.

“This time, without any cooperation and as an independent party, we maintained the same percentage, that means our fixed deposit is still there.”

Mending ties with Anwar

Dr Mahathir announced the formation of Pejuang on August 7, saying that it would mirror Bersatu’s struggle and would fight for Malay rights forsaken by other Malay parties.

The founding members of Pejuang are former Bersatu leaders sacked for supporting PH and refusing to acknowledge Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s move to form the federal government with Umno and PAS.

While its former PH allies – DAP, Warisan and Amanah – are open to working with Pejuang, the mainstay in the pact, PKR, is maintaining a distance.

This is largely due to Dr Mahathir’s decision to back Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal as the opposition pact’s prime ministerial candidate instead of Anwar.

While Amanah, DAP and Warisan back Dr Mahathir’s proposal, PKR maintans that Anwar should be the PM candidate.

The standoff among the opposition parties has now snowballed into PKR facing seats dispute with Warisan in the Sabah elections.

When asked how Pejuang would mend its ties with Anwar, Mukhriz said he would take a different approach to work with the PKR president.

The 55-year-old politician said trust is needed between the parties, admitting that there was an issue between Dr Mahathir and the Port Dickson MP.

“Whatever it is, there must be trust and basic understanding. We must meet face to face when discussing a matter and we have to be sincere. We cannot say one thing, and another thing the next day.

“In the near future, I hope we can reach an understanding. There is a problem between the two (Dr Mahathir and Anwar) I have to admit. However, I have a good relationship with PKR, especially in Kedah.

“We have to remember that we need to face the real enemy. We need to have that trust and we need to find a common ground.”

Mukhriz also hopes Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin won’t stand against Pejuang’s registration as a political party.

“Hamzah, if there is no problem, should allow Pejuang to be registered.”

Mukhriz and Hamzah were together in Bersatu – a party formed by Dr Mahathir in 2016.

Pejuang has not said it will align itself with PH.

Dr Mahathir said on Thursday the party would align itself with any party in sync with its principles. – September 11, 2020.