KUALA LUMPUR: Pas is confident that the establishment of a new party by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not undermine the position and strength of Muafakat Nasional (MN) as well as Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The new party would also not able to sway the votes away from the Malay community, said Pas Vice-President Idris Ahmad.
It is the former prime minister's right to form a new party, however, Idris is of the opinion that it is unlikely the new party will have an impact on MN and PN.
"It is the right of Dr Mahathir (to form a new party). We cannot prevent him, since this is a democratic country," he said.
In KOTA BARU, Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said there is no obstacle in Dr Mahathir forming a new political party as everyone has the right of association.
He said the formation of a new party could take place as long as it meets the conditions and is approved by the Registrar of Society (RoS), however it is up to Dr Mahathir himself on what the new party is for.
"I am of the same view as Pas president (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang), which is in Malaysia, you cannot prevent anyone (from) forming a party, so long as it is approved by the RoS. Provided it satisfies all qualifications, you can establish it.
"For us, the right of the individual under Article 10(1)(c) of the Constitution which is on the right of association does not pose a problem and it's up to Tun on the aim of its formation.
"In Malaysia alone, there are dozens of political parties established, including some that are inactive because there is no obstacle for anyone in forming them," he said in a press conference after opening the Annual General Meeting of the Justice of Peace Council, here, today.
On whether the establishment of the new party was likely to lead to changes among the Malay voters, he said there would likely be some effect.
"From my experience with Tun (before this), he often created the issue of disunity among the Malays.
"It will definitely have an impact. He has (his own) followers and groups so there may be disunity," he said.
In KOTA KINABALU, PN Chief Whip Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin concurred the same, that Dr Mahathir was well within his rights to form a party, and that they respected the democratic practice.
"I hope it will not create disunity among the people because the country has already quite a number of parties. However, in celebrating democracy, we accept it," he said.
In TAWAU, Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said he was prepared to cooperate with all quarters including with the newly formed party of Dr Mahathir.
The Sabah Chief Minister said Warisan has no problems with the new party, as they already had in place a working relationship with Dr Mahathir.
"As long as the path of struggle of a political party is in line with the aspirations of the people and the policies as well as the struggles of Warisan, then we have no problems," he said after handing over resettlement lots to victims of a fire at Kampung Tanjung Batu Otentik and land grants in Tawau and Kalabakan districts at the Tawau Community Hall, here, today.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister and Tawau Member of Parliament, Datuk Christina Liew, Kalabakan Member of Parliament, Ma'amun Sulaiman, and Tawau Municipal Council President, Datuk Ir. Amrullah Kamal.
In KUCHING, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg when met after visiting the construction site of the Kampung Bintangor Baru Bridge, declined to comment on the formation of Dr Mahathir's new party.
On Friday, Dr Mahathir who is the Langkawi Member of Parliament (MP) at a press conference announced that he would be forming a new "independent Malay" political party which was aligned to neither PN nor MN.
The party, which is yet to be named, would be formed along with four other former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) MPs, who have since become independent representatives.
The 95-year-old former premier would serve as chairman of the new party while his son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, was expected to be its president.