- Title: New Malaysian opposition party prepares for next election
- Date: 27th September 2016
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (SEPTEMBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, MUHYIDDIN YASSIN'S, OFFICE FOUNTAIN MUHYIDDIN TALKING TO HIS STAFF MUHYIDDIN STANDING MUHYIDDIN YASSIN SITING DURING INTERVIEW MUHYIDDIN LISTENING TO REPORTER'S QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER MALAYSIAN DEPUTY PREMIER, MUHYIDDIN YASSIN, SAYING: "So as matter of strategy, if we can come up now that we can agree to this what I proposed earlier, that sort of understanding or pact, it will shake them." (REPORTER: "HOW SOON CAN THIS PACT BE ACHIEVED?") "I would want to see it happening sooner than later, before year end or within the next months ahead before the year end or even before we can conclude the merger grand coalition. We have the sub-coalition that we agree. I can say, if I can work with PAS and PAS say yes they are willing to do that as well, okay, that's one done. I can work with Pakatan Harapan." MUHYIDDIN SITTING REPORTER TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER MALAYSIAN DEPUTY PREMIER, MUHYIDDIN YASSIN, SAYING: "People hated Barisan Nasional (National Front) government, people are burdened with many many problems. Of course people did not condone at all what the Prime Minister (Najib Razak) had done in terms of 1MDB and all the thing that the country is facing today. So what I'm trying to say is that the majority of electorate feel that the time is right to have a change of government." MUHYIDDIN TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER MALAYSIAN DEPUTY PREMIER, MUHYIDDIN YASSIN, SAYING: "They are prepared to set aside so-called big difference they had in political thinking about the issues of the nation. Of course the experience the Anwar himself had, until he has to be brought to court and put on trial, it is something which for me is deep in terms of effect in the minds of both the two leaders." MUHYIDDIN'S EYES MUHYIDDIN SITTING/INTERVIEW CONCLUDED MUHYIDDIN'S NEW PARTY LOGO SIGN READING (English) "PARTI PRIBUMI BERSATU MALAYSIA" (NAME OF NEW PARTY) MAN WALK PASS "PARTI PRIBUMI BERSATU MALAYSIA" BANNER
- Embargoed: 12th October 2016 13:33
- Keywords: Malaysia opposition party prime minister election Muhyiddin Yassin
- Location: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- City: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00151CBJNP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Malaysia's former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Tuesday (September 27) that a new opposition alliance will be up and running by the end of the year, with more disgruntled leaders from the country's ruling party expected to jump ship.
The new pact will aim to bring down the ruling coalition led by the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) and unseat Prime Minister Najib Razak, who remains firmly in power despite intense pressure to step down over a multi-billion dollar financial scandal.
Muhyiddin, who is widely seen as the opposition's prime minister-in-waiting, says opposition leaders realise they need to work together and avoid multi-cornered contests that would end up splitting their voter base, come the general election.
"So as matter of strategy, if we can come up now that we can agree to this what I proposed earlier, that sort of understanding or pact, it will shake them," he said in his first interview since his new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) was formalised two weeks earlier.
"I would want to see it happening sooner than later, before year end or within the next months ahead before the year end or even before we can conclude the merger grand coalition," he added.
Former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who is leading a campaign to oust Najib, is the chairman of PPBM.
Many UMNO leaders who are keen to join PPBM are not comfortable with the problems the ruling party is facing due to Najib's "tainted image", according to Muhyiddin.
Najib has faced mounting pressure, especially after the U.S. Justice Department filed lawsuits seeking to seize more than $1 billion of assets allegedly siphoned off from 1MDB, a fund whose advisory board Najib chaired until recently. The lawsuits do not name Najib but say more than $700 million of misappropriated funds flowed into the accounts of "Malaysian Official 1", who U.S. and Malaysian officials have identified as Najib.
Najib has denied any wrongdoing.
Mahathir and the jailed de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim met and shook hands earlier this month, in what many see as an end to two decades of bitter feud that have shaped Malaysia's political landscape.
The meeting paved the way for a coalition between the Pakatan Harapan opposition alliance and PPBM.
"They are prepared to set aside so-called big difference they had in political thinking about the issues of the nation. Of course the experience the Anwar himself had, until he has to be brought to court and put on trial, it is something which for me is deep in terms of effect in the minds of both the two leaders," Muhyiddin said.
A source close to the government told Reuters that Najib may call an election next year, more than a year before the deadline of end-2018. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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