'It's already 6pm for me', Rais says over his decision to quit politics

INTERVIEW | After resigning from all party posts in February, veteran politician Rais Yatim officially quit Bersatu effective April 15.

The former Jelebu MP confirmed the matter to Malaysiakini, saying that he decided on this so he could focus more on NGO activities with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Rais revealed that he had also declined an invitation to return to Umno.

"As I have quit as a Bersatu member, there were some friends who invited me to rejoin Umno.

"But I told them that I have the Umno spirit of 1946. So, to return to the party now, I don't think so," he said when met by Malaysiakini in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Rais, who is also a former minister, said it was time to make way for the younger generation.

"I’m working together with Mahathir, and we are now active in NGO work. As for political parties, the others can handle it. That’s my answer.

“After all, for us it’s already ‘6pm’. For all of you, it’s only 12 noon. Go ahead, there’s nothing to worry about,” Rais added.

More MPs back Hamzah

Touching on Bersatu, Rais expects the party to face a difficult path ahead as a large number of its MPs have sided with former Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin.

"I think Bersatu will struggle to survive compared to Hamzah’s camp, which is backed by the majority of MPs,” said the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar.

Last month, the former Dewan Negara president reportedly expressed his disappointment with Bersatu, saying the party no longer deserves to be called a "unity" party as it does not reflect reality.

“Everything in Bersatu has fallen apart, except its name,” he was quoted as saying.

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Bersatu recently saw a power struggle between its president Muhyiddin Yassin and Hamzah, which caused an internal crisis that ended with a series of expulsions of party leaders - including Hamzah.

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