DESPITE being stonewalled by the Registrar of Societies, Pakatan Harapan exists and will contest in the 14th general election, said Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“All our correspondence to the Registrar of Societies has not been answered. But in the minds of the voters, PH is here and will contest in GE14,” said Dr Mahathir on the fact that the RoS has yet to approve PH’s registration and logo despite the coalition’s repeated applications.
 
“As for Bersatu, we will contribute to the strength and victory of PH. And we will play a role in the new government that will take over from Barisan Nasional,” said the 93-year-old, who is also PH chairman.  

The former prime minister said this in his policy speech at Bersatu’s inaugural annual general meeting in Shah Alam today.

The AGM was attended by 941 of the 983 registered delegates from 137 divisions with observers from 21 other divisions.

PH leaders such as PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Amanah leaders Muhamad Sabu, Khalid Samad and Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad, and DAP top bosses Tan Kok Wai, Teresa Kok and Liew Chin Tong were also present.

RoS told Bersatu, formed last year, to hold its AGM because it was one of the reasons for the delay in PH’s registration as a political coalition.

Dr Mahathir said Bersatu’s strength lies in its experience, and reiterated that the party does not exist solely for himself, its president Muhyiddin Yassin or other leaders.

“Those who will contest for Bersatu during GE14 will be people, who want to fight against a regime. The votes we obtain are votes for the people and not for me or PH.

“Bersatu is not like Umno and BN, which exist only for Najib Razak to be prime minister,” said the former Umno president of 22 years.

Dr Mahathir said Umno had been hijacked by Najib and it was no longer owned by the people.

He said that a vote for Umno today was a vote for kleptocracy, a charge he had of late levelled at the Barisan Nasional government over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd and Felda scandals.

Fighting for one another

Against a background of an ongoing dispute with PKR over a suggestion to name him as the candidate for opposition prime minister, the Bersatu chairman also spoke about the need for Bersatu to rally behind PH.

“We have to accept that we alone cannot defeat Najib’s coalition that has 13 parties. To win we need to join other parties that have the same objectives. That’s why we joined PH.”

He said although PKR, Amanah and DAP would contest most of the seats in GE14, they must work hard for each other.

“We must ensure that the candidates from other component parties win. If Bersatu does not support other PH candidates, don’t expect Bersatu candidates to get their support.” – December 30, 2017.