PUTRAJAYA: The crossover of former Umno leaders should be deliberated in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council meeting, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today.
He said this in response to the recent crossover of seven former Umno leaders, who are members of Parliament into Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
The seven received their membership cards from Bersatu chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday.
“DAP feels that the matter should be discussed in the PH presidential council meeting. I have brought this matter up with Dr Mahathir (who is PH chairman) and he has been receptive about it and has agreed to have such a meeting.
“So let us discuss it first in the meeting. This is my comment for now on the current development (relating to the recent crossover),” said Lim after a cheque presentation to Tahfiz schools, here, today.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa, who is also Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) vice-president and Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.
On when the meeting would be held, Lim said it would be soon, but it would depend on Dr Mahathir’s availability because the prime minister “is a very busy man”.
Asked on the crossover which involved Tasik Gelugor MP Datuk Shahbudin Yahya whom the DAP secretary-general had strongly criticised for the former's statement regarding rape victims should marry their rapists, Lim said he was absolutely against anyone who took such a stand.
“But, I don’t know the Tasik Gelugor MP’s stand (on the matter) now. He should make it clear,” Lim added.
Shabudin had come out to say that news reports attributed to him of “rapists asked to marry underage victims” were inaccurate and bordering on fake news.
The Tasik Gelugor MP gave a 12-point explanation on the matter in 2017.
For Mujahid, he said anyone who wanted to join PH must be clear of what was needed from them to make the crossover, including accepting the coalition's struggles and that they were still answerable to any wrongdoings committed in the past.
“Any crossover should not be viewed as a move to `cleanse’ oneself from past wrongdoings. It is wrong to assume that once one joins PH, one will become pure like an angel,” he added.
Mujahid also echoed Lim’s view that such crossovers should be discussed in the PH presidential council meeting.
“This is to ensure any crossover will not be abused for one’s own interests or for any other interests except to uphold PH’s struggles,” he said.
Aside from Shabudin, the other six who received their Bersatu membership cards on Tuesday were Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Larut), Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Datuk Dr Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), and Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah).