Kayveas: Time for BN parties to merge

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 – PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas (picture) today called for a merger of Barisan Nasional component parties, saying the time has come.

"If component parties are serious about a merger, the issue should be brought to the BN supreme council. I think the time has come for us to discuss the possibility of merging BN parties," said the former Taiping MP.

"Instead of leaving the BN, PPP's priority right now is to help transform BN into a political party that speaks for all Malaysians regardless of race.

"We have to make some changes, or we will loose the people's confidence," he added. "In order to avoid race-based competition, we should start speaking in one voice."

He added that PPP was willing to talk to any party interested in a merger. "I am very positive that race-based parties have become less relevant and one day they will become totally irrelevant... not now but we have to start somewhere."

Kayveas also explained why PPP was not leaving the ruling BN coalition. "If I have the resources, if I have the funding and more leaders from other parties to join and build PPP, there is no harm in thinking along that line and to become a third force," Kayveas told reporters when asked about the possibility of the party pulling out of BN.

"But we have to think very rationally about what is good for the nation, and what is good for the people. In order for the country to have economic stability, we need political stability and on that basis we are staying with Barisan," he added.

He added that should PPP decide to join Pakatan Rakyat, it may receive the same treatment it has been receiving from other BN component parties.

"We may be in the frying pan in Barisan as we have been very vocal and other leaders cannot accept our views, but how do we know if we join Pakatan we will not be in fire?" said Kayveas.

Kayveas said that PPP was still relevant and could still play a meaningful role in nation building. "When we talk about being more relevant, if we have 20 seats to contest in the next election, everyone will say PPP is still relevant, because it is all about the number of seats, but we will keep our ears and eyes open for changes, and at the same time we will strengthen the party," said Kayveas.

"Pay attention to our ideas, our ideas are bigger than parties with positions in the government. They are only thinking about their positions."

-themalaysiainsider