Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia officially registered

PETALING JAYA: The Registrar of Societies (RoS) has officially approved the registration of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM), an Umno splinter party slated to go against Barisan Nasional in the next general election.
The approval was granted after a meeting between the RoS and PPBM's founding members in Putrajaya.
Party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin thanked the RoS and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the registration, which was approved in the period of 30 days from the date of application.
Muhyiddin however stated that RoS stood by its position to not allow the party to be promoted as "Bersatu", adding that amendments were also made to the party's official logo.
"We are not really happy that we are not allowed to use Bersatu as acronym. RoS argued that there are other parties using the same word," he said.
"However, we do not want to dispute and will comply with the RoS," he told reporters when met at the RoS office after the meeting.
Also present were former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
PPBM was formed by several disgruntled ex-Umno leaders and individuals, including Mahathir, who were not satisfied with the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
Muhyiddin, who is the former Umno deputy president, said that membership forms would be made available by Sept 14 to be distributed to those who are interested.
He said he had received feedback from several individuals who are keen on joining the new political party.
"We did not place any target for membership ... a membership campaign will be mobilised nationwide soon," he said.
Asked whether PPBM would cooperate with Pakatan Harapan to defeat Barisan Nasional in the next election, Mahathir said it is necessary for all opposition parties to unite if they want to achieve such an aim.
Mahathir, who is party chairman, also did not dismiss the possibility of working with jailed PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the future.
"If I can cooperate with (Lim) Kit Siang, why can't I cooperate with Anwar," he said.
In his effort to unseat Najib, Mahathir had shared the stage with opposition leaders, including Lim - his long-time political nemesis.
"From my previous experience, the opposition will lose in the election if they do not cooperate among themselves, as what had happened to them since 59 years ago," Mahathir added.