Dr M says Pejuang’s formation vindicated by political developments

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says recent political developments have vindicated his decision to establish Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang), despite the party’s limited success in its six years of existence.

In a speech at Pejuang’s fourth annual general assembly at the IDCC Convention Centre here, Mahathir, who used to lead Pejuang, said many of those who had been involved in expelling him from their former party had since been sacked themselves and forced to form new parties.

Mahathir, 101, said those who had previously pushed for his former party to quit the government because of disagreements with certain coalition partners now appeared to be gravitating back towards those same parties.

“The circle appears to be almost complete,” he said in a speech read out by Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali.

Mahathir, who attended the assembly, apologised for being unable to deliver the speech himself as he said his voice was weak.

It was his first appearance at a party event since the death of his wife, Dr Hasmah Ali, on Sept 28.

Mahathir said he was not bringing up past events to disparage anyone, but to encourage political parties to learn from the country’s history.

He said that an important lesson was that there were no permanent friends in politics. The only factor that endures, Mahathir said, is the cause that is being championed.

He added that political realignments were not unusual, but the real concern arose when the goals of a political struggle also changed.

Mahathir said a party’s principles and policies should clearly define its goals for supporters and guide its leaders when making political compromises.

However, he cautioned that the end did not justify the means, particularly when those actions went against Islamic law and Malay customs.

While he made no mention of the former party he was referring to, Pejuang was founded in August 2020 by Mahathir and a group of associates after they were sacked or ousted from Bersatu following a leadership split with party president Muhyiddin Yassin.

While it remains a Perikatan Nasional component, Bersatu has been sidelined after falling out with PAS, which chairs the coalition.

It formed an electoral understanding with Pakatan Harapan for the Melaka polls, with the coalition making way for Bersatu in four seats while they overlapped in three.

However, Bersatu suffered heavy defeats in all seven seats contested in Melaka yesterday, with five candidates losing their deposits.

Bersatu also suffered a wipeout at the Johor election in July and Negeri Sembilan in August, reflecting its loss of influence among the Malay electorate.

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