PUTRAJAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) should not make money as its priority and should not become slaves to acquiring worldly gains (harta), as practised by Umno, says Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
The Bersatu Armada chief said the party should hold on to the principle of fulfilling the rakyat's trust.
He said cronyisme, mega projects, offshore accounts, hidden funds and billion dollar allocations which he claimed were the modus operandi of the old government was 'old story'.
"Work and be trustworthy, for the rakyat. Not to fatten your own tummies, not for you wives and children. The country's money is the rakyat's money.
"Principles, values, trust, responsibility, integrity and humanity are what we should hold on to as a party.
"Maybe we can become rich, maybe all members can have properties, our wives and children can become millionaires but what values are then left with us?" he asked while delivering his policy speech at Armada's annual general assembly held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), here, today.
Syed Saddiq also stressed that Bersatu was not Umno 2.0.
"Many said Bersatu is Umno 2.0, Umno 3.0. Too many of Umno's style," he said.
"There are Umno's 'petualang' who entered Bersatu. Some say we are changing our direction. This is what we do not want in Bersatu.
"Bersatu is not Umno. Bersatu does not have to sell the country for political survival. Bersatu does not have to be a hypocrite and play up racial sentiments for politics.
"Whether we win or lose in Putrajaya, Bersatu will not and will never employ Umno's ways for political survival. This is what sets us apart from them," he added.
Armada's assembly kicked off last night with its opening ceremony officiated by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Also happening at the same time is the assembly for Bersatu's women's wing Srikandi.
The main assembly for Bersatu will take place today with party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad set to deliver his policy speech.