MASZLEE Malik has formally joined PKR and has declared he was driven by principles in making the decision, not rewards or financial gain.

The former education minister said his actions were different from that of a political frog who jumped from one party to another in pursuit of rewards.

“Why do I want to join a losing party, when even its president (Anwar Ibrahim) was attacked from various angles by opponents and friends? Even I was chided for joining the unpopular and weak PKR.

“This is the price of struggle. If frogs jumped from one party to another for positions and financial gain… but then when we join a losing party that’s in a weak position, it is not (as) a frog, but to defend the people. It’s also a struggle for the country,” he said at an event in Simpang Renggam today.

The Simpang Renggam MP’s application was received by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Maszlee, citing principles, left Bersatu after Muhyiddin Yassin took it out of Pakatan Harapan to form the Perikatan Nasional coalition with Umno and PAS.

He, however, did not follow in the footsteps of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who set up Pejuang after being removed from Bersatu.

He chose to be an independent lawmaker.

His decision to join PKR came as PKR reels from the thumping it received in the Malacca state polls.

The party lost all 11 state seats it contested in the election last Saturday.

The former Bersatu leader said, for there to be new hope for the country, he was willing to put money and rewards aside by choosing PKR as his new political platform.

“I don’t join any party for profit. I don’t want to be an opportunist by changing parties for reward, money, and position.

“That’s how hard it is to enter the opposition. There is no reward but the hope of building a new future for the country,” Maszlee said.

“If you want to be rich, either jump into BN (Barisan Nasional) or return to Bersatu.” he said.

Maszlee joined Bersatu just before the 14th general election and won the Simpang Renggam parliamentary seat.

The former lecturer at the International Islamic University of Malaysia is also targeting an increase in PKR membership of around 1,000 people at its Simpang Renggam branch by 2022. – November 27, 2021.