Ex-Umno MPs in Bersatu - Azmin 'repented', Rafizi 'collecting rubbish'
UPDATED | PKR's deputy president Azmin Ali and vice-president Rafizi Ramli seem to have differing views on Bersatu accepting former Umno lawmakers into its fold.
According to Azmin, the seven have "repented" and realised that Umno's brand of racial politics could no longer take the nation forward.
"You see, people make mistakes. People are bound to make mistakes. But as I mentioned earlier, they have to show their commitment to Pakatan Harapan first.
"[...] For me, we will accept any individual who will accept the struggles of Harapan," he reportedly told a closed-door meeting with members of the Hulu Langat PKR division last night.
Azmin, who is also economic affairs minister, reiterated Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's stand that non-Harapan MPs must accept the ruling coalition's policies and struggles before the door is open to them.
"As far as I know, they left Umno many months ago. They have shown commitment to the cause of Harapan for Bersatu to accept them.
"These new members are responsible for going to the ground, to convince Umno members they must leave the party as it is rotten, and corruption is endemic in the party," he was quoted as saying.
He also invited the seven to help in the campaign for the approaching Semenyih by-election.
Meanwhile, Rafizi disagreed that accepting these politicians would weaken Umno, arguing that instead it has eroded the spirit of Harapan's supporters with regard to the March 2 by-election.
"It does not weaken Umno. It is seen as collecting rubbish and contradictory to the people's mandate in the last general election to reject Umno and BN.
"I suggest focusing on the people's welfare instead," he added on Twitter this afternoon.
On Tuesday, Mahathir, who is also Bersatu chairperson, issued party membership cards to the former Umno MPs, including Shabudin Yahaya, whom Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng once described as a "monster" for suggesting that rape victims be allowed to wed their assailants.
Yesterday, Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said he would raise the issue during the next Harapan presidential meeting and stressed that he still condemns Shabudin over his remarks.
The move to accept the Umno defectors did not sit well with other Harapan leaders, with PKR's Chang Lih Kang and DAP's Ramkarpal Singh, Ronnie Liu as well as Hannah Yeoh, who is also a cabinet minister, expressing reservations.
Hello PM, I am going to vote for UMNO in Semenyih. To teach you a lesson. Stop playing politics and start managing the government. Put all the UMNO bastards behind bars. They carry cancer germs in them. They can never be cured. They are sick to the core especially the idiot that wanted the the rape victims to marry those who raped them.
Dear Azmin, can anyone after 60 years of indoctrination give up their previous doctrines, in 3 months? Can anyone change their Genes ( DNA ) and epigenes in 3 months. Please come on. You surely cannot be that stupid. The only thing that you can change in 3 months is your shirt and pants, and maybe your underpants. The whole country can see that Tun and Bersatu is doing it because he wants more MPs on his side ( whether legally or illegally ) and he wants to turn Bersatu into DUMNO 2.0. LGE, please put your foot down. Tun and Bersatu IS NOT indispensible. His numbers are still not there yet. Get rid of them, or you leave. Otherwise, THEY WILL MAKE USE OF YOU. Think long term. Think REFORMASI.
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