KUALA LUMPUR: Umno lawmakers who have chosen to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) could bolster its strength in rural areas.
In defending his move to bring over former Umno lawmakers into PPBM's fold, party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Members of Parliament, for example, have the support needed to rake in substantial Malay votes.
On the heels of criticisms, particularly from DAP leaders who allege that the prime minister is taking a shortcut to beef up PPBM's numbers in Parliament, Dr Mahathir said the entry would help to strengthen Pakatan Harapan (PH) as well.
"As you know, in the last election, quite a lot of Malays supported Umno. The party was still popular in the eyes of some Malays.
"Those Malays must be brought out, because if those Malays support PPBM, then PPBM will become strong, PH will become strong. So that is our position," Dr Mahathir said during an interview with media editors on Tuesday.
When asked whether PH members have voiced their concerns over crossovers, Dr Mahathir said he had assured them that PPBM would not be taken over by Umno and that stringent checks would be carried out on the new members.
"Yes, they are concerned. We are concerned too. We do not want to give the impression that Umno is taking over PPBM or any other party in PH. But we are very serious about vetting these people.
"I think that in the villages, (the ex-Umno members) are still influential. If we reject them, then we may be rejecting voters. They can bring in some voters and I think it will strengthen PPBM and PH," the prime minister added.
At the same time, Dr Mahathir said not all Umno members should be condemned for their leaders' past transgressions.
He pointed out that many of them have now realised the wrongdoings allegedly committed by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was the then Umno president.
Dr Mahathir said the former Umno members were mere "followers" and not leaders involved in formulating policies for the party.
"You cannot condemn all the members of Umno because of the mistakes made by their leader. Some are committed (to the party's cause), some are not. These people (who are accepted into PPBM) – they are followers. We are not keen to take (in) the leaders. Some of the followers followed because they did not participate in formulating the policies of the party in Umno, or even leading Umno.
"They are ordinary members. They were chosen to become candidates (in the 14th general election) and they won. Now, (after seeing) the accusations levelled at Najib, (they feel) that Umno is no longer the party that it was.
"He (Najib) is no longer struggling for the principles on which Umno was founded. So they (former members) want to come out (of Umno) – but they are still interested in politics," Dr Mahathir added.