KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has made it clear that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will not cut any deals with “criminals” over the invitation for Umno members to join the party.
Responding to allegations that a deal was being cut with 40 Umno members of parliament (MPs) who allegedly expressed interest to join Bersatu, he said:
"We have made no deals with criminals."
Asked on concerns that he was dictating terms in the discussions to bring Umno MPs over to Bersatu, the Bersatu chairman said any instances of corruption must be reported.
"We have stipulated that the conditions for joining Bersatu is for them to leave Umno, become independent for a period of time and then apply to become a member of our party," he said.
The prime minister cited the case of Jeli MP and former International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who quit as an Umno member on Sept 18 and joined Bersatu on Oct 26 as example.
Mustapa, who is also former Umno supreme council member, was quoted as saying that he quit Umno to join Bersatu after observing developments in the local political scene.
Dr Mahathir was speaking to reporters after presenting a keynote speech at the 2018 Anti Corruption Summit themed "Good Governance and Integrity for Sustainable Business Growth," which was organised by Transparency International Malaysia(TI-M) and Aram Global Sdn Bhd.
Also present was TI-M president Datuk Akhbar Satar and Aram Global adviser, Mohd Shah Hashim.