Ikatan dismisses third force claims, won’t contest in GE

Newly-formed Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan) said today it will not contest in the next general election, saying it was “too soon” for such a move.

The party also said it had no intention to become a “third force” in Malaysian politics, saying its goals were more “issue-based”.

“It is too soon for us to be taking part in elections, we are here for the long haul.

Former Umno minister leaves door open to joining opposition

Former Umno supreme council member Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who quit the party a week ago, said today he has not ruled out joining Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

The ex-Cabinet minister said many top leaders in PKR, PAS and the DAP, who were his “close friends”, had asked him to join the opposition pact but said he had yet to make a decision on the matter.

He stressed that for now he would focus on carrying on the “original fight” of Umno’s founding fathers for equality and democracy through NGO Angkatan Amanah Merdeka, where he is deputy president.