KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 ― Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said he considered PAS to be a stronger challenge to Umno than the nascent Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).
However Ahmad Bashah noted the growth of the Bumiputera-centric party in the state’s Jerlun constituency and added that the ruling party should not be complacent.
“We were up against Semangat 46 in the past. We were up against PAS for decades.
“And, in fact, PAS is many times better, way stronger than PPBM now. The real challenges comes from PAS,” Ahmad Bashah told The New Sunday Times in an interview published today.
His predecessor Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, now vice-president of PPBM, was formerly Jerlun MP. He is also the incumbent Ayer Hitam assemblyman.
“It is normal that there will be people who support him,” Ahmad Bashah said in the interview.
“However, in the party (PPBM), members are mostly those who were disappointed with their journey in Umno. Among others, they may not have got what they wanted when they were in Umno or lost in contests to hold office. So, they think they can become PPBM branch leaders,” he added.
The Registrar of Societies has given provisional approval to the registration of PPBM led by former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is chairman.
