KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) and its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be a challenge to Barisan Nasional (BN) seeking to regain some Johor seats, MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong warned today.

The Ayer Hitam MP noted his former Cabinet colleague has been Pagoh MP for several terms and still wields great clout in some seats like Muar — Muhyiddin’s hometown — and Bakri, which the MCA is seeking to take back in the next national elections.

"Don’t take Pribumi as a new party and look down on them or shrug them off just like that.

"He is a big influence there and that poses a big challenge for us,” the Johor MCA chief was quoted by The Star Online as saying while launching the Bakri MCA division meeting in Muar.

PPBM was formed by former Umno leaders, including Muhyiddin, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his son and former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

The all-Bumiputera party claims to rival Umno, but is now seeking to form a grand Opposition coalition with Pakatan Harapan parties ahead of the 14th general elections due by 2018.