Malaysia’s Pejuang party applies to join Perikatan Nasional coalition

Last week, Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin criticised Mr Mukhriz’s move in consulting both PN and Pakatan Harapan (PH) to cooperate in the coming state elections. 

The New Straits Times quoted Mr Hamzah as saying that Mr Mukhriz was desperate to look for a seat in order to ensure the continuation of his career in politics. 

It was reported that Mr Mukhriz had held talks with PAS top leadership recently on the possible cooperation between their two parties.   

Mr Mukhriz, a former chief minister of Kedah is the son of Dr Mahathir who had two stints as the prime minister of Malaysia.  

Pejuang was formed in the aftermath of the Sheraton Move that saw Bersatu leave PH in Feb 2020, causing the coalition to be ousted from the federal government.

Dr Mahathir was later sacked from Bersatu and set up Pejuang in Aug 2020.

In GE15, the party lost all their deposits in the 115 parliamentary seats it contested, including the Langkawi seat which was contested by Dr Mahathir.    

Six states – Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu – have to hold elections by this year.

It has been reported that the states have reached an understanding to dissolve their respective assemblies in the last two weeks of June.