KUALA LUMPUR: The People's Progressive Party's (MyPPP) decision to leave Barisan Nasional after the 14th General Election in 2018 should be considered invalid, as it was made by a leader who had been sacked from the party.
MyPPP acting president Datuk Dr. J. Loga Bala Mohan was referring to the announcement made by Tan Sri M. Kayveas that the party would leave BN to operate as an independent party supporting the then-current government.
As such, Loga Bala insisted that MyPPP never left BN and that the party has always remained loyal to the coalition.
"MyPPP never left BN. What actually happened was that on April 23, 2018, the former leader resigned as president.
"On April 25 of the same year, the MyPPP Supreme Council revoked his membership due to actions that violated the party's constitution.
"His subsequent misconduct led to MyPPP's registration being canceled by the Registrar of Societies on Jan 14, 2019.
"The individual who made the statement that MyPPP left BN is no longer a member or a leader. Can we accept a statement that was made by someone who has no say in myPPP what's more making a decision for us?" he said during the party's annual general assembly, here today.
Also in attendance was deputy prime minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Loga Bala said they feel hurt that their loyalty was questioned and that they didn't ask for power but just friendship and support.
He added that MyPPP was among the first parties to join BN in 1974 when they were doing well in the general elections.
"PPP was willing to sacrifice its identity in the name of friendship, has never backed away from that stance, and remained loyal to BN even when our status was in limbo," he said.
He said BN has to consider the party's continued and undivided support since 1974 in good and difficult times.
Loga Bala also said MyPPP will help BN in the Mahkota by-election, which has been fixed for polling on Sept 28.
In 2018, MyPPP formally announced its decision to leave BN with immediate effect to move as an independent party.
The Registrar of Societies then deregistered MyPPP on Jan 14, 2019, following a leadership tussle between the late Datuk Seri Maglin Dennis D'Cruz and Tan Sri M. Kayveas.
The crisis ended on April 11 last year when the Home Ministry approved MyPPP's appeal against deregistration and confirmed the validity of the MyPPP supreme council, which had elected D'Cruz as its president.
It was reported today that MyPPP has appealed to join BN as a component party.