40 Umno MPs might join PPBM

PETALING JAYA: Forty Umno MPs might leave the embattled party and join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), said its Supreme Council member Datuk A. Kadir Jasin (pix).
The veteran newsman revealed that the 40 MPs had met with PPBM chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
According to The Star report, Kadir was speaking to reporters at PPBM's Tebrau division meeting today.
Kadir who did not name the 40 MPs, said PPBM has yet to make a decision on accepting them.
He said the issue of the 40 Umno MPs was discussed during a leadership council meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Kadir also stressed the need for the MPs in question to leave Umno first, becoming independent MPs, before joining PPBM, and not do so en-bloc.
During a press conference following the meeting on Friday, it was announced that Jeli MP Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who left Umno last month had joined PPBM.
He submitted his membership form officially to Mahathir in the presence of Muhyiddin and the party's top leadership.
Mustapa also received the party's membership card from Mahathir.
Commenting on Mustapa's participation in the party, Mahathir said his participation was made voluntarily and not at the invitation of the party.
"I am very happy because we received the membership from a former Umno leader. We had given him time to become an independent MP, and after we had observed his stand, we agreed that he is qualified to be a Bersatu member," he said.
Mustapa left Umno on Sept 18 after serving the party for 40 years as he felt that Umno's approach was no longer in line with the principles of his political struggles.
Asked whether there would be more Umno members joining PPBM, Mahathir replied briefly: "We will see."