In a speech at the party’s annual general assembly, Mukhriz said Pejuang’s first option was to contest in the state elections as a component of Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA).
He noted that many party members had called for Pejuang to quit the loose coalition comprising Malay-based parties, NGOs, academics and professionals following its weak showing in the recent general election (GE15).
“I had recommended that the matter be discussed at the party’s highest decision-making body, namely the general assembly that we are holding today.
“However, (former Pejuang chairman) Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is GTA chairman, wanted Pejuang to continue being a part of GTA. Because of that difference in opinion, he decided to resign as Pejuang chairman,” he said.
Mukhriz said Pejuang’s second option would be working with Pakatan Harapan (PH). However, he said Umno’s cooperation with PH in the federal government would be an issue.
The former Jerlun MP said the party has been consistent in opposing corruption and abuse of power, allegedly committed by Umno leaders.
“The question now is this, will (Umno president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s court case be dropped by the attorney-general under the prime minister’s instructions? And will Najib Razak be pardoned and released from jail? We shall wait and see.”
While working with Perikatan Nasional (PN) was the third option, he said PN was not as clean as it touted to be, citing an ongoing corruption probe into the alleged misappropriation of RM92.5 billion by the former PN-led government, when Muhyiddin Yassin was prime minister.
The fourth option, he said, was to go solo at the polls. Acknowledging that many would oppose this following Pejuang’s weak electoral performance in GE15, he maintained that there was some valid rationale for this.
“If we want to continue to be perceived as being principled, then maybe one of the decisions we can make is not to partner with any coalition.
“The fifth and final option is for Pejuang to step away from contesting in the six state elections, instead focusing on strengthening the party and placing goals for the 16th general election,” he said.
Mukhriz said he will leave it to Pejuang delegates to debate on this matter, though the party’s central executive council will make the final decision.
GTA fielded 158 candidates in GE15, 116 of whom vied for parliamentary seats. They contested under the Pejuang banner but all the candidates lost, with the majority also losing their deposits.
Mahathir and Mukhriz also lost their deposits having polled less than one-eighth of the votes cast in the Langkawi and Jerlun parliamentary seats, respectively.