KUALA LUMPUR: A founding member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) today announced his resignation from the party.
His departure is expected to be followed by 820 other PPBM members nationwide.
Kamarulzaman Habibul Rahman, who held several posts in PPBM including as Supreme Council member and party working committee secretary, announced his resignation, citing that the party had deviated from its original struggle.
"PPBM has been ruined by Umno rejects who joined the party with the intention of seeking party positions.
"They are not here to champion the welfare of the people, they just want to look after their own interest,s" he told a press conference today.
Kamarulzaman said he had spoken out against this but his advice fell on deaf ears among the party leadership.
He was also rebuked as "not being good in politicking".
"I tried talking to PPBM chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad but he was clouded by wrong advice from others," he said.
The 55-year-old former teacher, now an officer with the Education Department in Port Dickson, also expressed his disillusionment with PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said Muhyiddin had taken for granted the contribution of Gabungan Ketua Cawangan Malaysia (GKCM) members, which comprised disaffected Umno branch leaders, in helping PPBM to gain momentum as a newly-established party.
"Those in who had put in real effort to serve the party were sidelined when it comes to appointment in party posts.
"They are treated like second class party members.
"Mostly the inner circle to the party top brass were appointed instead," said Habibur, who is also GKCM president.
Kamarulzaman also announced that some 820 party members from around the country will follow his footsteps and quit PPBM.
He added that GKCM is now ready to listen to overtures from Umno and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"What we want at the end of the day is to give our views to the government on how to improve the livelihood of the people.
"We are not after party positions," he said.