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PETALING JAYA: PPBM Secretary General Hamzah Zainudin has denied that the party is straying from its original goals by opening its membership to non-bumiputeras.
He said that PPBM recognized the contribution and role played by non-Bumiputera “associate members”, adding that the party was inclusive and forward-looking.
“PPBM welcomes the wish of any Malaysian who wants to join the party as a regular or associate member.
“For non-Bumiputera members, Clause 7 (Membership) of the PPBM constitution has already detailed the details for associate members.
“The Supreme Council of the PPBM is also studying proposals to form a body of associate members that will allow them to play a more significant role in the party,” he said today in a statement.
He was responding to claims that the party had strayed from its goals by actively welcoming non-Bumiputera members, as reported last week.
On Friday, veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah called on Umno leaders to withdraw from government due to PPBM’s decision to accept non-bumiputeras into the party.
He said the PPBM move disqualified him from being a member of Muafakat Nasional, which is intended solely for Muslim-Malaysian parties.
Tengku Razaleigh, or Ku Li as he is known, added that Umno had never joined Perikatan Nasional and only supported him to form the government in the interests of the country’s political stability.
