It Begins: Mass Defections From Ruling Party

(Malaysiakini) – More than 200 Umno members today submitted their membership forms to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Most of them came from the Sri Muda Umno branch. Altogether, 212 membership forms were submitted to Bersatu today.

IN PROTEST AT NAJIB'S CORRUPTION, UMNO EXODUS ESCALATES: ANOTHER 200 MEMBERS QUIT TO JOIN DR M'S BERSATU https://t.co/tOBAJwCIom

— Ben Hwang (@benhwang6318) December 31, 2016

Receiving the membership forms, Bersatu supreme council member Abu Bakar Yahya expressed hope that they would continue working to achieve the party’s aim of one million members.

“Don’t think about getting posts in the party or not, instead, let us together achieve the party’s aims,” he said in a press conference held in Taman Sri Muda today.

Meanwhile, former Sri Muda Umno branch deputy Youth chief Zul Iskandar Jamaluddin said he decided to leave Umno due to the purported corruption among top Umno leaders.

200 Umno members join Bersatu – More than 200 Umno members today submitted their membership forms to join Parti… https://t.co/zDOR7hhp44

— Azizi Othman (@AziziOthmanMY) December 31, 2016

“At the grassroots level, we have fought until the end for Umno but the party leadership is wrought with corruption,” he said.

Zul Iskandar, who had been an Umno member for 12 years, added that the mistakes of leaders had led to the increased cost of living.

“We, the youths, feel the burden, especially those who are married. This is the reason why we decided to join Bersatu,” he said.

He also vowed that he would pull more Umno members, especially the youths, to join Bersatu.

Sri Muda Umno members leave for Pribumi | thestarhttps://t.co/X81dduma00 #Malaysia@ahkmlog @billtay25 @cheong_desmond @choiom @meowphone

— The Long Tweet (@tanjooilong) December 31, 2016

Abu Bakar in his speech, earlier during the event, said that as both a Malay and Muslim, he should be proud of having a prime minister who is also Malay and Muslim, who can defend the plight of Malays and Muslims in the country.

“But even though he has been criticised heavily, he does not defend himself through the existing judicial system.

“When he doesn’t correct the perception that he is a liar by defending himself, then the allegations must be true,” he said.

Read original article here.