KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today confirmed that he is no longer with Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) nor does he hold any position within the coalition.
Astro Awani today reported that Dr Mahathir reached that decision after realising that GTA could not function properly and failed to attract voters’ support, especially during the 15th general election (GE15) last November.
“The position of GTA chairman, that is old news, I do not have any position now, the goal of establishing GTA did not happen, GTA did not help us win the election because it is a party.
“We found that if we move as a party, we cannot win, we have already fought GE15, GTA and Party Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) lost the 125 seats that were contested in addition to losing deposits.
“Previously, we also could not get GTA registered, we have not registered as a legal party because GTA is ‘not functioning’ and not moving, and I am not with them now,” he was quoted as saying by Astro Awani when met by the media after attending the Aidilfitri Open House organised by the Kubang Pasu Caring Organisation in Kampung Naga last night.
In a related development, Dr Mahathir announced that he is now moving ahead with the ‘Malay Proclamation’ agenda.
According to Astro Awani, the former Langkawi MP explained that the ‘Malay Proclamation’ was designed to raise awareness among the Malays about the risk of losing power in their own country.
He added that if the Malays are not united, their in Malaysia would erode gradually.
The ‘Malay Proclamation’ is a 12-point document which touches on the purported issues faced by the Malays that cause uncertainties over their future.
The proclamation written by Dr Mahathir also claimed that its aim was to unify the Malay community.
Post-GE15, on December 16, the 98-year-old veteran politician resigned as Pejuang’s chairperson.
However, on February 10, Dr Mahathir announced that he was leaving Pejuang along with 12 other members.
Through a notice to Pejuang secretary-general Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, the decision was made following the party’s action to cut ties with GTA.
However, he said at the time that he was still involved in politics as the GTA chairman.
