“A long time. It is a long time. The test of sincerity cannot be expedited,” he told PPBM delegates attending the party’s second general assembly today, its first major gathering after winning the May polls.

“Only if they are really sincere, and they have completely rid themselves of the Umno culture, can they be deemed suitable to hold positions,” the PPBM chairman said.

There is talk of former Umno MPs crossing over to PPBM en masse, in the wake of a series of defections from Umno in recent weeks.

Former international trade minister Mustapa Mohamed is among those who have been accepted into PPBM, while former Melaka chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik is waiting approval for his membership after announcing his exit from Umno.

On Dec 12, dozens of Sabah Umno MPs, assemblymen and senators declared themselves as independents. This was followed by several Umno MPs in the peninsula who quit their party, fuelling speculation of their entry into PPBM.

But Mahathir said his party would not accept them collectively.

“We will make sure they are not given the opportunity to spread their teachings and their ways – the ways of Umno. PPBM is clean and we will ensure it remains that way.

“Those who will change, are members of former parties. They will absorb our culture. They will work with us. Only then, can we be protectors to Malays – temporary protectors – because the real protectors are we ourselves,” he said.