PEJUANG chairman Mahathir Mohamad today announced the establishment of a new coalition known as Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) to target Malay and Muslim voters fed up with Umno’s brand of politics.

The former prime minister said that Pejuang is joined in the coalition by National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman), Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra) and Parti Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa).

He also said hundreds of civil society groups, professionals and Malay academics will join.

“This is our movement, we are inviting Malays not because of racism, no… but our efforts are focused against the deviant Malay party that is Umno.

The Langkawi MP said Malays will often not vote for non-Malay parties opposing Umno.

“We are a Malay party to oppose Umno, which is deviant.”

He said the coalition will compete in the next general election in all 120 constituencies with a Malay majority.

He said that they are also targeting fence-sitters, who previously refused to vote due to political fatigue.

“As far as we know Umno became the government with the support of 35% of the voters so there is another 65% who do not support the government.

“Some of them do not vote at all because they think politics is boring and does not bring benefits.

“We are confident that many will give their support to us.

“There are many hundreds of civil society groups as well as concerned members of the public who are not happy with the corrupt practices of the current government. We are confident of victory.”

Dr Mahathir has called on all Malays to join him and support the coalition in next polls.

“We will contest as a coalition and we will field candidates consisting of political parties, civil society groups, certain individuals or anyone who supports our movement.”

Dr Mahathir will lead the coalition as chairman, with his son and Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir is deputy chairman. – August 4, 2022.