PUTRAJAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) Armada wing expressed its disbelief at a statement issued by party vice-president Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Ab Rahman, who called for functions of the Federal Development Department (JPP) to be reinstated for the benefit of the party’s division and branch chiefs nationwide.
Armada information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamudin, voicing his incredulity at Rashid’s statement, said the wing objected in the strongest terms Rashid’s sentiment on how Bersatu members “must be given all the development projects by the Federal government.”
Ulya Aqamah said the wing would not hesitate to report such incidences to relevant authorities, including the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).
“As a party vice-president, making such statements is uncalled for even though he is free to state his opinion.
“Armada is absolutely against his opinion and we condemn this. This is wrong. Party members, if at all they are awarded contracts or tenders, should only do so because they deserve it,” he told reporters after the closing of the second Bersatu annual general assembly.
He said such acts should be a thing of the past as it goes against the spirit and narrative of New Malaysia and New Melayu, and that the party wants to empower the Malays and imbue them with good values, integrity and trustworthiness.
“We call upon all party members to drop this way of thinking. We don’t want our members to earn anything from the government and to abuse power and get involved in money politics,” he said.
Abdul Rashid, in his winding-up speech, had called for the functions of the JPP to be reinstated for the benefit of the party’s division and branch chiefs nationwide.
He said that by reinstating the functions of the JPP, all development projects can be channeled to division and branch chiefs, hence giving them sufficient funds to carry out programmes in their respective areas.
Commenting further, Ulya Aqamah said there are many other ways for party members to generate funds for the party which can then be channeled for the use of the people.
“They are many ways to raise money such as crowd-funding, corporate social responsibility programmes and others. There is absolutely no need for ask for tenders or contracts,” he added.
