PEJUANG’S aim in contesting the upcoming general election is to save Malays and other races because all the other Malay parties have failed to take care of them, Khairuddin Abu Hassan said. 

The Pejuang Federal Territories liaison chief said that it was crucial to bring back the glory of Malaysia, which is now seen as a country of kleptocrats. 

“Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad has set up the party and Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition to save the Malays and all races here. 

“This is because all the other Malay parties that were set up years ago are all ‘damaged badly’,” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Khairuddin doesn’t deny the fact that when Umno was set up it was a noble party fighting for independence and taking care of the welfare of Malays.  

“Umno was on the right track when Dr Mahathir was prime minister for 22 years.  

“But now they are corrupt from top to bottom. Even PAS and Bersatu have their own political agenda.  

“So, because all these parties are hancur (destroyed), we needed to form a more principled party to guide and uplift the Malays.” 

On August 7, 2020, Dr Mahathir announced the new party formed by him and several Bersatu MPs who were sacked for not supporting the then Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin. 

Dr Mahathir said Pejuang would uphold Bersatu’s original purpose to fight kleptocracy and corruption.  

On August 4 this year, Dr Mahathir announced the establishment of GTA to target Malay and Muslim voters fed up with Umno’s brand of politics. 

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

Dr Mahathir — who will be contesting again in Langkawi — said the coalition would stand in all 120 constituencies with a Malay majority in GE15.  

Khairuddin said that Malaysia was once branded an Asian tiger but now it was known as a kleptocratic country.  

“This is worrying to Dr Mahathir. He has always been a very principled man and wants what’s best for the people and country.” 

He added that they were looking forward to Dr Mahathir becoming the prime minister for the third time.  

This, he said, was due to there being no other leader in the country who could take up the responsibility to fix the issues plaguing the country right now.   

“But if he does come in (prime minister) it should only be for two years. Come up with a new masterplan to develop and fix the country.  

“Then, it’s only fair that Dr Mahathir steps down and makes way for other capable leaders.” 

Malaysia will vote on November 19. Early voting is on November 15. Nomination day is on Saturday. – November 2, 2022.