Kayveas: PPP Will Not Join Pakatan

KUALA LUMPUR: People's Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk Dr M. Kayveas said, even if the BN government is eventually toppled, PPP will not join Pakatan Rakyat. Instead, he said, the party would stick to its political philosophies in its unique manner.

He said even if the party quits BN out of sheer disappointment, he will not lead his party members to join the opposition.

He said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily that joining the incumbent opposition alliance has not been the party's political pathway, adding that the party wants to see that changes are taking place within BN.

Prior to the March general elections, Kayveas was the deputy minister in the prime minister's department. He lost the Cabinet post after failing to defend his Taiping parliamentary seat.

Kayveas said, although he chooses to stay in BN, it doesn't mean he will always support BN's flawed policies.

"For example I absolutely do not agree with the recent arrest of three people under the ISA."

He said he couldn't see how a journalist could pose any danger on national security.

Although PPP is only a minor component party within BN, Kayveas feel that his party has played a pivotal role. However, he was reassured that the party did not suffer very bad defeat in the recent elections.

"This is because we were allocated only one parliamentary and one state seats. At least we were not so badly bruised, like other component parties."

He insisted that PPP is still a sound and useful party, because it advocates multiracial political philosophies.

"People are now supporting multiracial parties, because we only have one voice, to speak for all Malaysians instead of any particular ethnic group."

"I don't understand why I'm a Malaysian when I'm in London, India or China, but seen as an Indian when I'm back in my own country!"

Kayveas said BN is a failed alliance.

"We always say our country is multiracial, and we open the opportunities to all Malaysians. But when we come back to party policies and many other issues, we are talking only about the well-being of our own races. We have forgotten that we are now in Malaysia."

He said those who do not agree to "Bangsa Malaysia" are selfish people.

He felt that while we can have our own way of living, eat our own food and believe in our own religions, we must put national interest above all else when we come back to the big family of Malaysia.

"I hope we can redress this racial mindset, as racist parties will eventually be foresaken by the people. I have to reiterate that the days of such parties are numbered. It's just a matter of time."

He felt that all BN component parties should be dissolved and amalgamated into one "BN Party" in a bid to win over Malaysian voters.

On Anwar's claim that Pakatan Rakyat would seize power from BN on 16 September, Kayveas said this would only plunge the country into a state of unrest.

He said Anwar should play his role as an opposition leader and not engage himself in endless psychological warfare with leaders from the ruling coalition.

Now that the opposition has secured a greater mandate in the elections, he said, they should harness the opportunities given to them to better serve the public instead of rushing to topple the existing government.

"The reason is simple enough. We all need to work and our children need to go to schools. We still need to make a living. Spreading news of changing government and playing psychological warfare will only put the people in a state of confusion. This is totally unfair to them."