ALOR STAR: They are incapable of managing their own party affairs, yet they are dreaming of running the country and deciding the fate of more than 30 million Malaysians.
That is the poser raised by Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah on the credentials of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) leaders after the party was slapped with a provisional dissolution order by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
The Kedah menteri besar said the RoS decision against the Umno splinter party had raised doubts about their ability to manage the party, let alone manage the country.
Bashah said it was evident the PPBM top leaders were more obsessed with achieving their agenda of wresting power from Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th general election (GE14) than focusing on complying with RoS requests.
“It (the RoS decision) clearly reflected PPBM leadership’s weaknesses in running the party as they were too obsessed with chasing their dream of capturing Putrajaya. As such, the people must think about whether the PPBM leaders are capable of running a country with a population of more than 30 million.
“Clearly, they could not even manage their own party affairs which resulted in the provisional dissolution order by the RoS because they failed to comply with the agency’s regulations,” Bashah told pressmen after taking part in a Fun Walk and Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat event at Taman Saga in Alor Mengkudu.
Bashah was commenting on the RoS decision to slap a provisional dissolution on PPBM yesterday for failing to compile with orders set by the agency.
He added that it was unbecoming for PPBM chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to dispute the legality of the RoS order as it was clearly the party itself which was to blame as it had failed to comply with the agency’s requirements.
“Tun Dr Mahathir served as the prime minister and throughout the two decades, he had never once questioned the RoS.
“However, since joining the opposition, he is questioning the RoS and refused to shoulder the blame despite it being a clear cut case that they were the ones who failed to comply with the RoS requirements.
“Even Umno itself was declared unlawful by the court in 1988 following an internal party election when Dr Mahathir was the president, but the party did not dispute the decision by the authorities,” he said.
On a related matter, Bashah said Dr Mahathir was welcome to contest anywhere in Kedah, including Langkawi.
He said it was the former premier’s right to contest anywhere he wishes and the Kedah BN machinery, especially in Langkawi, was prepared to defend the island.
“The people in Langkawi are aware that only BN can ensure continuity in the island’s development. Langkawi was developed by the BN government, not by Dr Mahathir in his personal capacity.
“He was able to develop Langkawi during his time as the prime minister because he was representing the government and BN... he could not have done it in his personal capacity,” he said.
