Future of PPP in BN

The future of PPP, whether inside or outside BN, is going to be the same: the party will continue to be popular and gain in popularity. It will be the party of the future.

Because in all developed countries, a two-party system will eventually emerge. Either you work, or I vote in the next party.

I think after Tun Mahathir’s time, BN has become too comfortable. You make every decision, then you come to the meeting, it’s all done. Then we hold press conferences to say it’s all set, everything’s okay, we have agreed. Now I realize that that’s what’s been happening. We can’t talk, don’t talk. We zip our mouths. Why? Respect. We give respect. We want peace. We want to progress. We want to prosper. So, we make friends and we be there. But if you’re constantly being left out …..

Some people have asked me, ‘Why are you talking about seats only now and not when you became president of PPP? I became president in ’93, [general] elections were held in ’95. There was only one new Parliamentary seat available then. I asked for the seat.

Originally, I think Tun Mahathir had in mind to give the seat to us. Then I think something happened and it went to MIC. I thought okay, and the PM advised me to hold on. In the ’99 [general elections], because of the Anwar issue and Keadilan, Tun Mahathir wanted to maintain status quo [to ensure a] Barisan win. It was also my paramount interest, so I said okay. And, of course, he later made me a Senator, brought me into the Cabinet.

Then he retired, and came [the general elections of] 2004. There were 25 Parliamentary seats and 63 state seats. I didn’t know when, how it was divided or where it all went. All I was told was that PPP had no seat – of course, I was willing to work – and then came the Taiping Parliamentary seat and one state seat. I began to realise …

When I was new as the President, we were building the party. Now, we’ve got half a million voters. I think that’s a big strength. We’re a political party; if you don't get your seat, that’s a problem. And this one seat they’ve given us …

This MP who has another seat, YB Tan (Lian Hoe), in Bukit Gantang, instead of working in her constituency, is attending to functions in Taiping and holding open houses there. She went to the by-elections in Batu Talam, posted up a letter that apparently said BN have made her in charge of Taiping. Where is Barisan ethics?

Barisan component leaders should have dignity – look, the PPP is now back; we are strong. We should talk about allocation seats.

When [Dato Seri] SP Seenivasagam, the [party] leader, died (in 1975), there was no leadership and there was crisis. Our 4 seats in Parliament, 12 state seats and 16 council seats in Ipoh municipal council were held in trust for PPP by the BN. So now, let’s see the honour, the true picture of Barisan integrity, Barisan transparency and Barisan Unity.