The Registrar of Societies (ROS) will act professionally and according to existing regulations in looking at the application of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) as a new party, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, said he would not interfere in the process of evaluating the application of the new party. 

"I am confident the ROS will carry out its duty without prejudice. The application would be forwarded to a committee for a review for approval by the home minister," he told the media after chairing the Third National Biodiversity Council meeting in Putrajaya today.          

Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin today submitted the application to register the new party known as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) at the ROS office in Putrajaya.

Ahmad Zahid said the application would be reviewed in detail and it would take at least 30 days to be approved. 

As such, no individuals should try to pressure ROS to expedite approval of the application," he said. 

'Splinter parties nothing new'

Asked on the future of the new party and its effects on Umno, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno vice president and also discharging the duties of deputy president, said based on history, splinter parties did not last long.         

He said splinter parties from Umno was nothing new, going back as early as 1956 when the founder himself left to set up Parti Kemerdekaan, and down the road the now defunct Parti Semangat 46 and Parti Keadilan Rakyat, which is in power in Selangor at the grace of its allies the DAP and PAS.  

He said splinter parties were usually not based on political ideology or philosophy.      

"Usually it involves two elements, disappointment and anger or struggle for interest of a group or one individual. This cause its (party's) lifespan to be not long and its interests will be overtaken by events," he said. 

Without belittling the efforts of the opposing side or running them down, Ahmad Zahid said hoped Umno members remained united and not be easily swayed by the new rival. 

"We hope Umno from the grassroots to the central level would strengthen theparty in facing existing or old rivals," he said. 

- Bernama