GTA submits registration papers to ROS, defends Malay agenda

Malay rights coalition Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) submitted its application to be formally registered with the Registrar of Societies today.

The group hopes that their application will be approved within the next 30 days without any interference from the government.

GTA currently consists of Dr Mahathir Mohamad-led Pejuang, Ibrahim Ali’s Putra, PAS-splinter group Berjasa, and National Indian Muslim Alliance Party (Iman).

Representatives who met the ROS today include Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir, Ibrahim as the Putra president, Berjasa president Zamani Ibrahim, and Iman president Mohammed Mosin Abdul Razak.

In a statement read out by Pejuang secretary-general Marzuki Yahya, the GTA will be led by Mahathir as its chairperson, with the presidents of the four parties acting as deputy chairpersons.

Besides the secretary-general, information chief, and treasurer, the GTA registration papers also include academic Murad Merican as a committee member.

GTA plans to contest in 120 Parliament seats and will use a common logo approach if its application with the ROS is rejected.

Berjasa last won in an election in 1990, while the other parties have lost all their deposits in every poll they’ve contested so far.

Potential GE15 allies

Mahathir said last month that GTA was willing to have discussions with Perikatan Nasional, but Marzuki indicated that such talks have not yet taken place.

As for cooperation with Pakatan Harapan, the coalition’s chief Anwar Ibrahim yesterday said working with GTA would be difficult due to “differing principles” on matters such as corruption, and race relations.

Mukhriz, however, defended GTA’s agenda - saying they plan to form an honourable government to address the problems brought on by corrupt Malay politicians, while also defending non-Malay rights.

“If you consider fighting for our race, for Malays, as unprincipled, I don’t know what to say.

“For us, Malays will sacrifice anything for this country to protect all races,” he said.

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