The reception for Parti Pribumi Bersatu (Bersatu) has been overwhelming, said its pro-tem committee member Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.

He said complete strangers have been approaching him for membership forms wherever he goes, even on the very day the party submitted its registration papers to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Aug 9.

This is despite the fact that the party cannot register anyone as members until the ROS approves Bersatu’s registration as a party.

“This was right after the registration at Putrajaya, I had stopped at a restaurant very briefly.

“I was about to enter the car. (They) pulled me out - well, not literally pull me out, but like, knock - and said, ‘Are you Saddiq?’.

“I said yes, and they said, ‘Oh, glad to meet you. Can we take photos?’ And then they asked, ‘do you have the registration forms?’

“Just now when I was at Bangsar Village (shopping mall), it is the same thing as well; when I went back to my hometown, same thing as well […]

“The level of reception was exceptional, so I am very happy on that front,” he told Malaysiakini when met after a forum in Petaling Jaya last night.

Earlier at the forum, Saddiq told the audience of about 50 that some quarters had also released ‘preliminary’ registration forms for the party.

He said the forms received little publicity and spread only through social media and word of mouth.

Bersatu had denied that the forms came from them and warned that it may be an attempt to steal the personal information of potential members.

And yet despite this, he said, tens of thousands of these membership forms had poured in together with the registrants' IC numbers and other details.

He said this when responding to a question from the audience on the difference between Bersatu and the now-defunct Semangat 46 party.

Saddiq replied that the political landscape today is different, since the Semangat 46 movement stemmed from a political dispute, whereas the 1MDB scandal is a national issue.

The level of grassroots support is also a lot higher, he added.

In addition, he said Bersatu’s party constitution sets it out to be a pro-reform party, and would be the first party to implement term limits for its leaders to ensure its rejuvenation.

“In the 1970s, the average age of a minister and chief minister is 35 to 45; today it is 55 to 60. There is no rejuvenation in Umno – that’s why even young leaders who want reforms within the party cannot push for those reforms.

“So I think the constitution alone is radically different, and at the same time, the grassroots support is a lot higher.

“I personally believe it is a lot higher, because of the current sentiment in which a lot of people want a reform-based Malay party, but want that new platform – a platform that does not exist,” he said.

Speaking to Malaysiakini later, Saddiq said the constitution cannot be made public until Bersatu has been formally registered.

Saddiq also told the audience that some people are concerned Bersatu members may simply rejoin Umno as Semangat 46 did when it was dissolved in 1996.

He said he would ensure that this does not happen, but should he get out-voted and Bersatu rejoins Umno, he pointed out that Semangat 46 had already left its mark.

Although Semangat 46 failed to take power, Umno lost many seats in the process and to this day, Kelantan is still held by an opposition party.

“The opposition maintained the traction they had before to this day. Leaders can change, but the people can’t be fooled.

“So I think in the worst case scenario, even if it were to happen, it will still be a progressive move for Malaysians,” he said.