PN rejects membership bid by Pejuang

Perikatan Nasional (PN) has rejected Pejuang's application to join the coalition, its secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said today.

In a statement, Hamzah said the decision was made at a meeting of the PN Supreme Council on March 20, chaired by Muhyiddin Yassin.

The council also decided to maintain the use of the PN logo at the state elections in Kedah, Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan. 

"The PAS logo will be used in Kelantan and Terengganu," Hamzah added. 

"The Supreme Council has instructed the election machinery in these six states to strengthen preparations and ensure readiness at the highest level." 

Pejuang's application came days after its founder, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, left to join fellow Malay-based party Putra, led by former Umno man Ibrahim Ali. 

Pejuang president Mukhriz Mahathir said he had written to Muhyiddin as well as PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Gerakan president Dominic Lau, explaning why Pejuang should be accepted into their fold.

He said that among others, Pejuang wanted to ensure that there would not be a split in Malay votes in the six state elections to come.

"It will be more beneficial to all parties if Pejuang joins PN and contests using the PN symbol. 

"Of course, this means that Pejuang's cooperation with PN is not limited to the state elections that will take place in June 2023, but also for the long term," Mukhriz said.

At the last general election, Pejuang fielded some 60 candidates under the Gerakan Tanah Air coalition.

All of them lost their deposits including Mahathir, who failed to retain his Langkawi parliamentary seat.

Pejuang secretary-general Amiruddin Hamzah expressed regret at the decision but said his party would continue to defend the rule of law and carry the mandate of struggle for religion, race and country. 

"With this, Pejuang will continue to mobilise its machinery to prepare for the state elections to come," he said.