This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on October 31, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no secret agenda in welcoming members of parliament (MPs) from Umno to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), its deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said.

 “No, there is no agenda. I see it as something that does not violate any democratic practices. There are no laws preventing MPs from changing parties. So if anyone is interested in doing so, we should allow them and not reject their applications,” he told reporters at Parliament lobby yesterday.

Mukhriz, who is also the Kedah Menteri Besar, said any Umno MPs who wish to join Bersatu will still have to go through a screening process.

“With Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, he is someone. So as soon as he decides he wants to join us, the door is wide open for him. But for others, we need to go through that whole process of understanding their backgrounds and all that,” he added.

 On Saturday, Bersatu supreme council member Datuk A Kadir Jasin claimed that 40 Umno MPs could leave the party to join Bersatu.

Asked whether the move will undermine democracy as there will be a weaker opposition, Mukhriz gave an assurance there will still be check and balance in the parliament.