Hati, led by former MCA leader Chan Tse Yuen, was officially registered with the Registrar of Societies on June 18.

Party adviser cum central committee member Wong See Choon said Hati hopes to bring a breath of fresh air to the political environment, and to give hope to Malaysians who felt that the government had lost its direction.

At a press conference, Chan said Hati aims to promote inclusiveness, unity, and respect for the constitutional monarchy, values grounded in the Federal Constitution which it believes have eroded in recent years.

He added that Hati would put the people’s welfare front and centre of its agenda, while avoiding power struggles and identity politics.

Chan, who was MCA Youth deputy chairman from 1990 to 1993, said Hati would actively contest parliamentary and state elections, but was not aligned with any coalition.

However, he said it was open to future alliances, possibly in the upcoming election in Sabah, depending on “timing and necessity”.

MCA fielded Chan, a lawyer by profession, as a candidate in the 1986 and 1990 general elections.

He was also a challenger for the MCA deputy presidency in 2005 but lost to then transport minister Chan Kong Choy. He quit MCA in June this year.

Hati’s leadership includes its deputy president Abdul Razak Abdul Khalek and vice-presidents Dr Lim Hong Jun, Derrick Kok, and Chee Chee Meng.

Frederick Ng is party secretary-general while Chua Bee Miau is its treasurer-general.